“I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt and leaving out what it lacks
The future feels so hard and I want to go back.” – Sarah Groves
2:30am. Too early to get out of bed but I couldn’t stop my brain from working overtime. It’s funny how God tends to speak loudest when it’s the quietest. Perhaps that’s because we need the stillness to hear the small voice of the spirit. It takes intentional listening.
Before going to bed, I had listened to a friend tell me about the issues she was facing in her marriage, another friend had texted me to connect about what was going on in her life, and yet another text from a family member about changes on their end. The day had been long and stretched me out as I had started work at 7:00am, which meant I had to leave the house by 6am and I hadn’t gotten home until 7:00pm or been able to eat lunch. I had fallen into bed at 10:00pm exhausted knowing that I had to get up between 4:30-5:00am to start it all over again.
Groaning, I rolled over and started praying for sleep to come. When it didn’t, I started praying over each person I had talked to and knew, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the story of Lot and his wife. Have you ever had a moment like this where you start thinking about a bible verse or story you heard. It replays in your mind repeatedly, causing you to think about it. I wondered why I was thinking about this. What was the point of the story? Why did it matter if she was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back? Why is it bad to look back at where we came from?
The questions rolled around in my head as I replayed the story in my mind. It’s one I’ve known since childhood. A cautionary tale told in all Christian homes as an example of what happens if you don’t obey God.
But I know God well. We talk regularly and I know that there is always more to learn from a story than what you see on the surface. So, I let the questions come and redirected them to the Holy Spirit. He would have the answers and would show me as he always did. “Fear and desire are dangerous” he whispered to my heart.
The Recap:
If you don’t know the story of Lot and his family fleeing Sodom & Gomorrah, you can find it in Genesis 19:1-38. The short version is that God sends two angels to the city. Lot hosts them and during their visit, the men of the city ask Lot to send them out so they can sleep with them. Lot instead offers his daughters! And when they don’t agree, the angels tell Lot to vamoose as God will destroy the city.
Before leaving, Lot tries to save his soon to be sons-in-laws but hesitates on leaving himself. As Lot and his wife are leaving, he asks the men if instead of going to the hills (like he’s told by God), he could stay at a nearby city (Zoar). They agree and he flees, but not before his wife looks back and is turned to a pillar of salt. He ends up planting roots by the city of Zoar, but eventually he moves into the hills with his daughters as he’s too afraid to stay.
Background Context:
Now before we get to the take-aways from Lot’s story, it’s important to have some background context. To that end we are going to look at Genesis 13:1-13. From this passage we learn the following:
- Lot is Abraham’s nephew.
- He traveled with Abraham, but they ended up separating due to lack of resources available, which was causing strife between their households.
- Abraham gave Lot first pick of where he would settle and Lot chose to settle near Sodom and Gomorrah, because it was well watered and full of vitality (like the garden of Eden).
- The men of Sodom were extremely wicked and sinful against the LORD (they had no shame).
About Salt:
During biblical times salt was used for a variety of purposes outside of just seasoning their food. It would have been used for purification, temple offerings (later explained in Deuteronomy & Leviticus), disinfectant and medicinal purposes, preservation of food, and it was even used in mummification rituals in Egypt.
It’s also commonly found around the Dead Sea, which is where Sodom and Gomorrah were located. And it’s also found in brimstone; you know the stuff that God sent from heaven to destroy the cities!
Lessons Learned:
- Don’t judge by sight alone.
Lot chose where to plant his family based on what he saw. He didn’t consult the Lord or consider the community he was settling into. Sometimes things come our way, opportunities or perceived blessings, that look really appealing. But before we act on the opportunity or accept the blessings it’s important to take the time to consult the LORD as to if this is from him and is it the best option for us. Remember he knows our comings and our goings. He knows all the plans he has for us. Think of it as asking a navigator to look at a map and give you directions. He’s our ultimate GPS. So, what plans do you have in your future that you need to consult the LORD on?
- Don’t look back.
When Lot’s wife looked back, she was turned to salt. Why? Because she longed for what was behind her. The sin was her desire for what she had left. You cannot move forward if you are focused on what’s behind you. If you do that then you are 1) moving in the wrong direction (if at all) and 2) too busy wanting something that no longer fits who you are. It’s important to remember that we are called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and looking ahead. You can’t see Jesus if you are looking in the wrong direction.
I do want to be clear, when I say that desire is wrong – I’m not talking about all desire. There are healthy forms of desire. The ones that are wrong are the ones that pull us away from God. So, the question isn’t do you desire something, but is what you are desiring pushing you to or pulling you away from God?
- When God warns, get ready to move.
God isn’t in the habit of making snap decisions. He won’t just randomly decide that you should leave your job today at this very moment. There is always a plan in place and he always gives warnings. The question is simple – do we pay enough attention to hear them? What warnings has he given you? Did you hear it?
- Delaying could cost your life.
Lot’s story shows us that hesitancy can cost our lives. Lot tries time and again to bargain with people. First, it’s the men of the city, who end up getting so riled up that God had to save him. Then Lot delays leaving the city and must be dragged out by the angels. His hesitation almost cost him his life – twice!
At first, I was stunned and even had a judgmental reaction. How could this man who knew about the future destruction not leave?! But then I realized it would mean leaving the friends he knew, his sons-in-law, and starting over. He would have to leave everything behind. It’s daunting to have to start again. And acting in obedience to God’s calling can be very scary. Is there something you are delaying obedience on? What has God called you to do that you are hesitating on and why are you hesitating?
- You are what you eat.
Lot and his family settled near Sodom and Gomorrah because it looked great. But the effect it had on his family was unbelievable. It’s easy to say that we should be cautious about what we eat, watch, or participate in, but it’s equally true that we should be cautious about who we let into our lives. Lot allowed his daughters to grow up in that culture and at the end of Genesis 19, we see them making some seriously questionable choices.
Now I’m not saying that you need to shut yourself off from people who don’t share your beliefs – far from it! You should be a light, and you should be out there interacting with them. But what I would say is exercise caution as to how much you interact with them. Guard your heart. Do you need to set better boundaries? Do you really want them around your children that much? How much do you let them speak into your life and is that wise?
- You don’t need to live the lesson to learn it.
Abraham didn’t live in Sodom and Gomorrah. He woke up and could see the smoke and destruction of the cities. Sometimes you don’t need to live the lesson to learn it. I would argue that you never have to, we are just stubborn enough that we tend to. I would encourage you to look at those around you. What are things you can learn from them? Which lessons do you want to carry forward, or mistakes to avoid? How can you learn from their example so that you can do better?
- Repentance saves lives.
As I read this story, I wonder what would have happened if the men of Sodom and Gomorrah had repented of their wickedness. The great thing about the Bible is that we really don’t have to wonder – God would have forgiven them and they would have lived. It would have been like Nineveh. It’s a stark reminder that repentance leads to life and pride leads to death.
Not only do they have physical consequences (good or bad) but there are spiritual consequences as well. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is but a physical image of what happens to us when we sin. We are filled with wickedness, destroyed by our own actions and choices, and separated from God permanently.
- Fear is dangerous.
It’s so important to me that you understand fear. There are two forms of fear commonly referenced in the Bible.
The first is the fear of the LORD. This is best understood as awe or a deep reverence for God. If you don’t have this, as most of our culture has lost the understanding of what this is and how it’s lived out, ask God to help you. I would also recommend the book “The Awe of God” by John Bevere.
The second type of fear, which is what we see take place in Lot’s story, is the fear we all know. It’s the type of fear that keeps us from doing things we should do. It stops us from growing, tells us that change is bad or that asking questions about our faith will make it weak. It tells us that we can’t pass that performance review or that quiz. This kind of fear is dangerous.
It’s dangerous because it stops us from becoming who God wants us to be. It causes us to doubt our identity and believe that we aren’t enough. It also is the basis for “FOMO” or Fear of Missing Out. Fear is a top contender in marketing tactics. It shows up in the forms of scarcity marketing (“While supplies last…”) or social proof (Ted Lasso bought this cookie which is why it’s good). It makes us believe that there isn’t enough to go around or to be unique (or have value) we need to get that same item.
This is why I believe Lot settled near Sodom and Gomorrah. Scarcity marketing and fear of not having enough. But we don’t have to believe that. Fear isn’t from God. He has more than enough to go around and then some. It’s like the tables in Harry Potter – when the pie is gone more just appears.
Look, I’m not sure what you are afraid of. I don’t know the adversary you are facing down, but I know God. I know a little bit about how powerful he is and how much he can do. I’ve seen it in my own life and that’s just a grain of sand in the glass. Whatever fear you are facing, I would encourage you and pray that you will hand it over to God. That you look it in the face and say, “No More”.
Conclusion
I know we have covered a lot (pun intended). This story has much to offer us, even if it’s not the traditional story of faith that you think of. Sometimes the best way to learn is to watch what others do and take the lesson without the bruises. I would encourage you to pray over what you have read and repent of anything that you need to repent of.
Or if you are reading this and think you fall into the category of a citizen of Sodom or Gomorrah, don’t be discouraged. We have all been there, and the good news is that God provided a sacrifice to cover your sins. All you have to do is tell him that you repent (are sorry for) what you have done, you don’t want to do it any longer, ask him to come into your life and be your LORD, and that you accept his son’s (Jesus’s) sacrifice on the cross. Don’t let fear of change or being different or looking foolish or anything else stand in your way of walking closely with God. Know that I’m praying for you each always.
With all my love,
Hannah
Whispers of Christ 