When the angels came to Sodom it was evening. The
whole event that ensued where Lot sought to protect them from the lust-crazy
people took a whole night. Verse 15 indicates that morning was dawning, and
time for the impending judgement had arrived. The angels then urged Lot to take
his wife and two daughters, and leave the city so that they would not be caught
in the judgement God was bringing upon that city. But Lot hesitated. Why?
Perhaps he was thinking of the property he had in Sodom. Maybe it was the
friends he had to leave behind. He was weighing the cost of leaving Sodom. We, standing
at a distance looking at him, must have felt how foolish he was to have second
thoughts about leaving that wicked city. But wait. Aren’t some of us like him
in some ways? Thinking of the cost of leaving our past behind to truly follow Christ
has caused some to hesitate. Remember, Jesus reminds us that to put our hand on
the plough and then look back, makes us unworthy of the Kingdom of God. As we
evaluate how we have gotten so far with Christ, be thankful for the mercy of God.
He has sent people who can see clearer to push us on. In the same way, God’s
mercy was shown to Lot and his family. The angels forcefully took them by the
hands, and sent them out of the city.
As Lot and his family was out of the city, they were
urged to flee for their lives, and not to look back. They were told not to stay
in the valley but to flee to the mountain. Moving on to higher and safer ground
with the Lord is ours to do. With no uncertain terms he was told to escape to
the mountain. But evaluating his situation, he doubted that he could make it to
the mountain, so he requested to go to one of the nearby cities. In spiritual life,
each one of us must aim to exert higher. Never choose the low land. Lot doubted
momentarily. Of course by his own strength he wouldn’t be able to make it to
the mountain. But God was in control. If Lot could only see that. Thankfully, we
have a fuller revelation and we know that God is in control of all the
circumstances of our life. He will sustain us when we trust Him, and press
toward higher grounds.
Lot was a survivalist. He never thought about the
future, he only cared for the moment. He didn’t think of the negative influence
he could get, in the smaller city he proposed to run too. He was too fearful
for his life and became self-centred. His trust in the Lord became weak and he
wavered. Failing to focus on the Lord who had brought him out of Sodom, he
chose a temporary relief. Like Lot, there are people who would rather have stop-gap
measures in life. But God would rather that we go for the total solution found
in the mountain. It is there that we connect with Him. He wants us to
experience His best. But in His grace, he does allow us to choose a lesser plan
like Lot did. Any plan we choose other that God’s, would be as insignificant as
Zoar, which literally means small.
As instructed, Lot and his family fled from the impending
judgement that God had for Sodom and Gomorrah. They were running toward that
smaller town that Lot had requested, although the Lord would rather they run to
the mountain. They were told not to look back. But as the fire and brimstone fell
from heaven upon the two wicked cities, Lot’s wife looked back. She became a
pillar of salt instantly. Why did she look back? Was it curiosity? Was it the
love she still had for her past? Was it the friends or property she could not
part with? Whatever the reason for her
failure to follow instruction, it was disobedience, clear and simple. The one
last look at evil can be dangerous. It could be the deciding factor to a life
of usefulness or a life of uselessness. She became a reminder to us of the
danger of having one last look at evil.
The account closes with Abraham going to the spot
where he had interceded with the Lord. He saw the smoke that rose from the
ashes of Sodom and Gomorrah, and knew that God couldn’t even find ten righteous
in that city. His mind must have gravitated to Lot, wondering what had happened
to him. He knew the wicked influence Lot was exposed to on a daily basis. But the
passage made clear that Lot was spared because of Abraham’s prayer. This helps
us to know that our prayers for people we love do make impact with God. So don’t
stop praying for them. We are given the freedom of choice. But what we choose
determine how we will end. Hence, we must choose to begin with the end in mind.
So choose wisely!
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