RUSSELL SANDERS
11-6-2020
ABRAHAM – PART 24
LOT’S FLIGHT FROM SODOM
Genesis 19:12-30 tells of Lot’s flight. The two men (messenger angels) told him that God was going to destroy the place and he should gather all of his family and get out with his sons and daughters. Lot went to his other children, including sons-in laws, to plead with them to leave with him. They refused and mocked him.
As morning came, Lot lingered in hopes they would change their minds and come with him, but they showed no sign of leaving Sodom. The two men had to forcibly lay hold on Lot, his wife, and the two daughters who were still at home, and pull them out of the city.
The men (angels) told Lot to take refuge in the mountain. Lot did not like that. He pleaded to go to the smaller city of Zoar, and that is where he went.
As Lot fled, two things happened. God rained down fire and brimstone on the entire area. It buried Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim destroying those four cities.
Secondly, Lot’s wife “looked back from behind him” and became a pillar of salt. Lot and the two daughters proceeded on to Zoar.
Let us look more closely at Lot’s wife’s action. She “looked back” to Sodom because she loved her life there in that “city of sin.” She was going to return to it. How do I know? Because she looked back “from behind him (Lot).” She was already well behind Lot in her trek back to Sodom. That is why she “became a pillar of salt.” She was covered in the brimstone (salt) that God had poured out over the entire area. She became incased in that “salt.”
Archaeology speaks of this. The “Plain of Jordan” was a low-lying area next to the Jordan River. The entire plain was “rained” upon with salt from heaven. The result is what is now called The Dead Sea or the Salt Sea which lies on the southern end of the Jordan River. It is the saltiest body of water on earth. It did not exist prior to this incident. Lot’s wife had already “looked” or gone far enough back that she was covered with this (salt) brimstone.
Think of this. How many people have been rescued from sin, only to turn back to it? That is what she did. Many are still doing this today. There is nothing in the glamour and allurement of this world that is worth turning your back on the salvation that God has provided.
We must lay hold on our salvation and “fight the good fight of faith....” (I Timothy 6:12) and “run with patience the race that is set before (in front of) us.” (Hebrews 12:1). Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). He will help us throughout the “race of life” unto eternal life. Keep your trust in Him.