As unknown, and yet well known… (2 Corinthians 6:9a)
The Bible is filled with accounts of people who were great examples of godliness, yet God is never one-sided with His records of His creation. God also provided many examples of “what not to do”; He couples those examples with warnings against copying such behavior. Today, we will take a closer look at one of those examples. God chose not to tell us this woman’s name, but He made sure she became well-known:
Lot’s Wife
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where…Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan…and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:10a, 11a, 12b-13)
We are first introduced to Lot when Abraham (Abram at the time) leaves Ur of the Chaldees upon God’s command, and he takes Lot, his nephew, with him. The Bible does not tell us when Lot marries, but it seems likely to be some time after he leaves Ur with his uncle, perhaps during their sojourn in Egypt. We can’t say for sure. Regardless, at some point, Lot takes a wife and, eventually, has at least four daughters (see Genesis 19). (Note: It is possible that Lot did not take a wife until he was living in Sodom. The Bible simply doesn’t tell us.)
After some time, Lot and his family arrive in Canaan with Abraham and Sarah. Their shepherds begin to strive with one another, so Abraham suggests a parting of the ways. Lot agrees, and rather than giving Abraham the first pick of the land as he should have, he chooses the well-watered plains of Jordan, pitching his tent toward the wicked city of Sodom.
The Bible does not tell us how long it took, but Lot did eventually move his family into the city of Sodom. Genesis 14 tells us that a large army attacks Sodom and captures Lot and his people (among many others from the city):
And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. (Genesis 14:12)
We see also that Abraham had a great part in rescuing Lot from his captors:
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan…And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. (Genesis 14:14, 16)
After this, we don’t hear about Lot for the next few chapters, but, as the account continues in chapter 19, we learn that Lot becomes so influential that he earns a seat at the gate of the city. In those days, such a thing was a position of honor and authority in a city. As Lot is sitting at the gate of the city, he receives some visitors:
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; (Genesis 19:1)
Unfortunately, these Heavenly visitors do not come bearing good news. They have come to tell Lot that he and his family must leave Sodom immediately, for God is going to destroy the city because of how wicked it is. They tell Lot to warn his whole family, and to get out as fast as possible.
When Lot goes to tell his sons-in-law of the coming danger, they mock him and refuse to take him seriously. Clearly, Lot (nor his wife?) have had a positive influence for the Lord on these men. Nevertheless, the angels urge Lot to take his wife and two daughters still at home and leave the city:
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. (Genesis 19:16)
Before leaving them, the angels strongly warn them to flee as far as they can and to not look back:
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (Genesis 19:17)
Come sunrise, Lot and his family enter into Zoar; then the fire of God rains down on Sodom and Gomorrah, utterly destroying them. If only the story ended here, with Lot and his family safe and sound and perhaps a little wiser for their troubles. Unfortunately…
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26)
Why?! After the angels specifically warned against it, why would Lot’s wife look back?
Again, we must be careful not to speak where God is silent, but it’s still safe to make at least one assumption: She didn’t want to obey. Obviously, Lot’s wife cared about her home, was probably sad about her other daughters who didn’t leave the city, and perhaps missed some friends that they had made while living there. Maybe those reasons were factors in her desire to turn back and look at the city again.
Regardless of her reasoning, Lot’s wife clearly showed a lack of regard for God’s command (given through the angels) and a lack of faith in God’s plan for their lives. Perhaps she loved the life they had in the city; they must have been wealthy for Lot to be influential enough to have a seat at the gate. Maybe she didn’t think the city was all that wicked; after all, she let her daughters marry men who lived there. We can’t know these things for sure. We can know that her disobedience caused her death.
2 Peter chapter 2 tells us that God viewed Lot as just when He sent the angels to warn him about the destruction of Sodom:
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (2 Peter 2:7-8)
Clearly, the wickedness surrounding Lot bothered him every day, although, unfortunately, he did nothing to stop it. If Lot could be vexed by it, could not his wife have been vexed also? Yet, it’s hard to believe that she was by her actions. We can certainly learn from her judgment.
Remember Lot’s wife. (Luke 17:32)
In context, Jesus speaks this reminder while warning His disciples of the Day of the Lord and the coming of His kingdom. He warned them (and us) not to get too tied down to this world, and not to fall for the trap of complacency because this world will one day be destroyed:
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17)
We must heed this warning as well, for:
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. (Luke 17:33)
To read the entire account of Lot’s wife and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, please click here.