Biblical Text: Genesis 19:17-26; Luke 17:28-32
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Lot’s Wife - Background
God in His eternal purpose always maintained a testimony for truth and righteousness in the midst of this ungodly world. For this reason, He chose for Himself the family of Abraham, with whom He had fellowship. This chosen family was called out and separated from its ancestors, and led apart to dwell as travelling men in the land of Canaan. They were not allowed to go to the cities and mingle with other races, but to dwell in tents as a separate tribe, lest their character should become polluted. The Lord intended that the people should dwell alone and not be numbered among the nations. Abraham was called for that purpose and he obeyed, not knowing whither he went. His faith was exercised greatly because of his separated life and it was so strengthened that it became unstaggering assurance. This enabled him to enjoy a quiet, happy career, dependent only upon God, as well as apart from man.
We see, with him, his nephew Lot, who also left Haran, shared with Abraham in his wanderings in Canaan and in Egypt. He was greatly influenced by the mind of his uncle Abraham. Abraham and Lot both became owners of large herds. Their livestock needed more grass than one piece of land could provide. Their herdsmen began to fight. To end that fighting, Abraham suggested that they part ways so that their herds would have more land.
Abraham showed grace to Lot when he unselfishly let Lot choose what part of the land he wanted. Lot’s decision to take to best land revealed his selfish heart. Lot desired the green grass for his livestock. So, he made his choice on what he could see. However, Lot’s choice placed his family and servants close to the wicked city of Sodom. There would be consequences to Lot’s decision that he could not see. Things are not always as they appear. Lot lacked the faith to believe that God would provide away from the green lands also. Abraham on the other hand trusted God and His promises to provide for his herds and family.
In Genesis 14, Lot and the people of Sodom were captured. God used Abraham to rescue them. The people of Sodom should have turned to God in repentance and should have chosen to live righteously. However, this did not happen. They continued in their sins and their continued sin was a wrong response to God’s mercy. God’s eventual judgement of sin is certain.
The Holy Spirit God refers to Lot as a righteous man. Like Abraham, Lot was not perfect. God showed His grace to Lot when He rescued Lot and his daughters from the judgement of Sodom. In 2 Peter 2:6-8 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds).
Who is Lot’s wife?
Why did she become the ‘Pillar of Salt’?
A. Lot’s Wife is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 19: 17-26 and Luke 17: 28-32
The Bible does not mention her name anywhere. However, she is addressed as Lot’s wife. Lord Jesus Christ in Luke Chapter 17, also calls her as Lot’s Wife. We all know that Lot, with all his faults was a righteous man, so we can also call her as a righteous man’s or righteous Lot’s wife. In fact, she is Lot’s ‘worse half’. She was united to him in the closest possible bonds of marriage, and yet she perished. By being Lot’s wife, she was also acquainted with Abraham and Sarah and must have heard and seen God’s goodness in their family. She seemed to have shared all the privileges of separated people and yet she perished. She was also dear to the one (Lot) who was dear to the father of the faithful (Abraham). With all this, she perished in her sin. There is a note of severe warning here, for the truth is and it needs to be repeated that ties of blood are no guarantees of grace (C H Spurgeon). You may be a wife of the saintliest man and yet be a daughter of Belial. Likewise, you may be husband of the most Virtuous woman, and yet yourself be a castaway. No earthly relationship can possibly help us, if we ourselves are destitute of spiritual life. Therefore, we must be born again.
B. Now, we’ll consider the next aspect, why did she become the ‘Pillar of Salt’?
Being Lot’s wife, since her marriage to Lot, she had shared in his joys and sorrows, difficulties and trials. We cannot tell exactly when she became his wife. The Bible says in Genesis 12, that Abraham left Haran and he took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son. But we do not read there about Lot’s wife. We also read in Genesis 14:16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. Theologians say that by this time, Lot must have been married. Whatever may be the case, she became his wife and now that is her identity (Lot’s Wife).
We will now consider in spite of what wonderful privileges and opportunities Lot’s wife perished or became a Pillar of Salt
The Wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah
1. Lot’s wife saw and experienced the great wickedness of the people of Sodom. Yet, she looked back. In Genesis 19:4-5 Before they lay down, the men of the city—the men of Sodom—surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.”
2. Now the question is, to his sons- in – law, Lot seemed to be joking and the warning was a joke altogether. Was the warning a joke to his wife also?
verse 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.
The Angels’ Role:
1. We see that Lot’s wife witnessed the supernatural power of God with her very own eyes when the men saved Lot from the wicked people, and struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness. Can you think, even a blind person standing at the door can touch the door or find the door easily. Here they could not find the door at all when they all were so close to the door. Yet, she looked back at Sodom and became a Pillar of Salt. In Genesis 19:9-11So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. 10 But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.,
2. The men were hurrying them up, urging them, asking them if there is anyone in the city belonging to them, to take them and flee for their lives as God is intending to destroy the city. In spite of these urgent and terrible warnings, Lot’s wife looked back and perished.
Genesis 19-12-13, 12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! 13 For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”
3. We don’t see anywhere that Lot’s wife is mentioned, when Lot was talking to the angels or giving them hospitality. Hospitality was the culture of oriental nations. But she was right there. She also had the opportunity to see the angels face to face, converse with them, be with them that night along with her husband Lot. Yet, she looked back and perished. We see that in Genesis 19:15 (When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.”).
4. In Genesis 19:15 The men were very clear that the entire city is going to be punished. Lot’s wife heard it, witnessed all this and yet she looked back and perished.
5. In Genesis 19:16, we see Lot lingered when the Lord was in a hurry. He was not quick and immediate when destruction was at the door. The Lord, gracious and merciful, took his hand, his wife’s hand, hands of his two daughters, brought them out and set them outside the city. Yet, she looked back and was destroyed.
6. We see here the angels holding her hand and bringing her, we can say pulling her out by force to save her from destruction because of God’s mercy, yet, she looked back and perished.
7. Notice the multiple warnings beforehand and the explicit command of God not to look behind after bringing them out and warning them that if they look back, they’ll be destroyed. Yet, Lot’s wife looked back and perished. In Genesis 19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”
8. Can you imagine the eternal and sovereign Lord delayed His Judgement on Sodom for Lot and his family? Yet, Lot’s wife looked back and perished. Verse 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”
9. God remembered the earnest prayers and pleadings of Abraham and came to rescue Lot and his family from the terrible destruction. Yet, Lot’s wife looked back and perished. Verse 29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt? The Lord remembered Abraham.
Now we will see about the God who brought this judgement of brimstone and fire.
1. We see in Genesis 18:1-15, God came down to bring glad tidings to Abraham and Sarah. In verse 10, God said that Sarah shall have a son. God came to speak blessings in the life of Sarah and Abraham.
2. The same gracious and merciful God who is the author of all our blessings, we see that, He is also a righteous judge. This narrative is a picture of how things will be when God sits upon His throne to Judge. We notice that Abraham in verse 25 addresses God as a Judge (Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”)
3. He is the God, in His hands are life and death, sparing and destroying, killing and bringing back to life, giving and taking back.
Deut 32:39-41 (Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.40 For I raise My hand to heaven, And say, “As I live forever,41 If I whet My glittering sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me.
4. This God shows mercy and kindness even in His judgements.
In 2 Samuel 24, when the Lord brought judgement on David’s sin, note what David said in Verse 14 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” Note what God said to the angel who stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.”
5. Judgement of God is sure, though it seems as a joke (as in Noah’s time) and in Lot’s time as well.
6. We may think, why then the people are not afraid when God pronounces His warnings and judgements. For this, I answer, because for a long-time judgement is delayed or it doesn’t come. Because God shows immense long suffering, people think that God is not bothered about what is happening. We will see the cry of the righteous against the wicked and wickedness.
· In Habakkuk 1:2-4
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save.
3 Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
4 Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
· Again, in Psalm 73:2-3
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Therefore, the wicked are careless whereas the people of God are disciplined by their loving Father.
Verse 14 For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.
Looking at such a condition as this, the psalmist was disappointed, until he says, he went into the Sanctuary of God, then he understood their end and this song he continues in
Verse 18-20 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.
At the end of this Psalm, he gives hope to the people of God
But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.
We learn that as showing mercy is a work of God, pouring out His wrath, being furious at sinners, are also the works of God. We will be foolish and ignorant, if we think that God doesn’t act quickly.
24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
In Genesis 19:24-25 we notice the word ‘all’ is repeated twice. Also in Verse 28, when Abraham looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, he saw only smoke and nothing else. In Verse 29, God overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.
7. He is a God who remembers the prayers of the righteous, their intercessions, their pleadings even in His judgements.
In Genesis 19:29, And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.
Jeremiah 15:1 Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!
In what context does the Lord Jesus tell His disciples to remember Lot’s wife In Luke 17: 32?
1. We see in God’s word Hebrews 13:7, Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. That is, we are told to remember the righteous and imitate them, their way of life. But what is the Lord intending when He says “Remember Lot’s wife” and we have to remember her for sure, for this warning came out of the lips of our loving Lord Jesus. Notice, Lot’s wife is not to be remembered for her life of faith but for her life of disobedience to God and carelessness to pay attention to warnings.
Her life primarily warns us about the days of Noah and the days of Lot, the days in which she herself existed. Lot’s wife had the history of the Flood (God’s Judgement) to take warning from, but she was like any other person living in those times. For example, they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. In Verse 30, the Lord is telling that Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
2. Again, this reminds us of the terror of God. This warning is both to the saints and sinners. The saint should be acceptable to God, have reverence and awe, for this reason that our God is a consuming fire, whereas the sinner should be careful not to fall into the hands of this living God for judgement, for none can escape His wrath. Hebrews 12: 28-29,28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”
3. Here, In Luke 17, Lord Jesus Christ is comparing the days of Noah and days of Lot with the days of the revelation of the Son of Man, He says even so it will be, that means, the days of Lot were in no way different from days of Noah and at the time of His Second Coming the days will not be any different. He tells us to be watchful and careful, to have a very loose hold of the things of this world, for what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? We all know the parable of a Rich Fool in Luke chapter 12, God said to him, this night your soul will be required[AD1] of you…. hold the world with a loose hand and be ever ready to leave it all, even the very life of yours. Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
4. At all times, everywhere, the destruction came all of a sudden, it came suddenly especially when no one was expecting, it came in the midst of their day-to-day activities. Notice, Lot’s wife was destroyed on the threshold of deliverance. She was not destroyed in Sodom’s fire, but a different judgement of God came upon her because she looked back. The God who saves, who came to save us from our sins, the God who will come to gather His own, is the same God who will also come to destroy. 1 Peter 4:17-18, For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
What Lessons do we learn from this narrative?
1. When choice was given to him, Lot looked at the other side and saw green land very much suitable for his herds. That is wisdom. But choosing greenery at the cost of godliness is foolishness. His entire family got effected by ungodliness of Sodom. On the other hand, Abraham might have had a hard time to raise his sheep because of rocky places.
2. Lot, being righteous, also needed urging. Christians need much urging, the reason is, their spirit is willing but flesh is weak.
3. This narrative gives us a clear pictorial representation and a practical exhibition of God’s mercy both to the righteous and sinner. The angels came in order to 1. Bless Abraham and Sarah 2. To bring judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah 3. To rescue Lot and his family from destruction. They did their job faithfully. For we see, they blessed Abraham, spoke to Sarah that God will perform that which He has promised, left for Sodom to rescue Lot. When Lot was lingering, they urged Lot, hastened him, and when he was still delaying, they caught hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, both his daughters and brought them out of the city. God sent His angels to warn all the people of Sodom. God did not judge Lot and his family along with the judgement He brought upon Sodom. God Himself took hold of them by their hand and brought them out.
4. The angels were clear concerning the fate of Lot’s wife as she is a signal example of a person perishing after the best possible instruction. Lot’s sons-in-law are the example of men with whom earnest pleadings only ends in mockery. Ezekiel 33:4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.
5. Observe the unce
rtainty of riches. Riches have wings to fly. They certainly will perish. Lot’s wife had her heart and eyes upon the uncertain riches and she also perished along with them. So, is it wrong to acquire them? No, not at all, for it is God who gives all these things for our enjoyment. But it is certainly wrong to have faith in uncertain riches. It is a bad master but a good servant. In the light of eternity, one should be cautious not to keep their eyes on these things as their ultimate end.
6. Being righteous alone is not enough. Our graph of faith must progress. If we are righteous alone, it will be like Lot, a brand plucked from fire. For example, Sarah’s faith eventually grew. Growth is always a reliable proof of a genuine faith. The persons who don’t progress in their faith, the Bible says that they are shortsighted and progressing to blindness. In 2 Peter 1:5-9 But also, for this very reason, giving all dili
gence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
7. Those who don’t heed to warnings, they themselves will become as a warning to others, like Lot’s wife.
8. The life of righteous from the beginning to the end, is a life of faith and those who walk by sight certainly cannot walk by faith. Hebrews 10:38 But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.” …
The Gospel in this narrative:
I. We observe that Lot’s wife was so close to rescue, yet she perished. The only place where she had the gospel is in her own family, with her own husband, for the Bible ca
lls him as the righteous Lot. In their part of the world, that is in Sodom, she had her husband with whom there was gospel and after that the gospel was with the angels who came to rescue them. Just as we saw, Abraham’s family was the only place God chose to reveal Himself, therefore it was very safest place for Hagar, though there were difficulties there.
2. We noticed Abraham’s intercession, angels’ urging, till the last minute, without giving up. It lays responsibility on us, who are saved to urge both righteous unto godliness and sinners unto repentance, caring for their souls. The angels’ words to Lot were harsh. Love does not manifest itself by lying and smooth utterances but by speaking the truth.
3. Having intention to obey is not enough, for we must obey for sure. Both In Genesis 19 and Luke 17, everywhere the urgency and hastiness are mentioned and practically shown, for delaying to obey is disobedience and neglect of duty is continuous sin. James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
4. Though it is very sad to notice, Lot and his wife were united in the unbreakable bonds of marriage here upon this earth. They lived together for many years, suffered together, for we see that their daughters were young women, but were separated eternally forever. God expresses His concern through His acts even for the soul of Lot’s wife.
5. Lord Jesus Christ lets us know the importance of eternal virtues, riches. In Mark 10: 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
Conclusion:
Now the question to those who are righteous is, are we anxious about the souls of others? Then let them know it, for we do not fail to warn a man if we know that he is in physical danger and should we not pray, plead, urge men when we know that their soul is in eternal damnation?
We who are righteous, are we concerned for the spiritual wellbeing of our partners/loved ones? We strive to provide good things to our family, that they may enjoy comfortable life here upon this earth as long as they live. But, how long do we live and what abou
t eternity? Are we concerned for their life in eternity is the question we must ask ourselves. For we know, we are mortals and our life is like a passing cloud and a setting sun. For reality as it stands, that each one has to give an account of themselves to God, account of their Christian life also. On that day, will we be able to say that I have endeavored to present my loved one to Christ? It is sad that many of us don’t strive for that, and like Lot they themselves are not aware of their own spiritual state. Think, if you are not aware of your own spiritual state, how can you help someone who is in need of spiritual help? We try to address the issue superficially, but the root lies in the heart. Don’t we have the desire that our partners should receive honor from God on the Day of His visitation? Then, dear reader strive and strive you must.
And those of us who are not saved, know that there is no right time and opportunity than now. Now is the best time. Lot’s wife’s narrative teaches us that destruction and judgement is sudden and it is at hand.
Hebrews 10:37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”
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