Remember Lot’s Wife!
Genesis 19:26, “¶But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Introduction
In Luke 17:32, The LORD Jesus Christ, when speaking in the context of the coming Judgment Day, made this terse statement, “Remember Lot’s wife.” When we look at that context, provided by the preceding four verses in Luke 17:28–31 , we learn the following: “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. ¶In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.“
Jesus was referring us back to the wife of Lot in Genesis 19:26, “¶But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Again, for the context, we read in the preceding verses of Genesis 19:12-17, where the Angels of God, having the appearance of “men”, spoke to Lot as follows:
“¶And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring [them] out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. ¶And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. ¶And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of 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. 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.”
And then, a little later, after Lot petitioned the Angels of God to flee to the small village of Zoar, we read in Genesis 19:23-26, “¶The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. ¶But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
The Spiritual Meaning of Salt in the Bible Is Judgment
When we see how God employs the use of salt in the Bible we see a consistent theme. Salt is used to bring God’s Wrath and Judgment. The meat sacrifices for sin were salted. When a land was cursed it was salted. God referred to His Covenant as one of “salt” that entails an eternal offering as an atonement for sin, wherein Jesus had to endure God’s wrath in judgment for the sins of God’s people. Finally, the just judgment to come is an inherent part of the Gospel. We cannot speak of the love of God and his mercy if we do not speak of God’s judgment and wrath for sin that is to come. How can people understand their need for Jesus as Savior if they do not hear what they will be saved from? Our speech must therefore also be seasoned with salt. (For more on this subject, particularly expositing Colossians 4:6, please see The Meaning of Salt in the Bible, which is excerpted from a longer Bible Study guide by my dear friend and former Bible teacher, the late Thomas A Schaff.)
Leviticus 2:13, “And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.“
Numbers 18:19, “All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it [is] a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.“
Deuteronomy 29:23, “[And that] the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, [and] burning, [that] it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:” Note in particular the linkage with the word “salt” here together with “brimstone” and “burning” and “Sodom and Gomorrah”. This is scary stuff!
Judges 9:45, “And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that [was] therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.”
Sin offerings were to be salted, Ezekiel 43:23&24, “When thou hast made an end of cleansing [it], thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up [for] a burnt offering unto the LORD.“
Mark 9:49&50, “For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” and Luke 14:34, “Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?“
Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
The bottom line to this is that when we bring the Gospel of Salvation, we must clearly also warn of God’s coming judgment for sin in order for mankind to see its need for a Savior. Jesus Is The Only Savior, and the Only Way of Escape from that penalty which is destruction in Hell. 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.“
God Warns Us To Remember Israel’s (And Lot’s Wife’s) Errors To Avoid the Coming Judgment
1 Samuel 12:19-24, “¶And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king. ¶And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his greatname’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.“
1 Corinthians 10:1-11, “¶Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. ¶Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” And likewise, Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.“
2 Timothy 3:14-17, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¶All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.“
Conclusion: The Believers Cannot Look Back!
Lot’s wife was evidently too enamored with the sinful world of her day. Rather than being obedient to God’s commandment to NOT look back, her heart was set upon this carnal evil world and NOT with God. She looked back, and she was judged for not loving God first and foremost…which she would have otherwise exemplified by keeping God’s commandments like her husband did. God’s illustrative use of the “pillar of salt” underscores that God’s judgment was brought upon her.
Once we, as believers, have committed ourselves to the cause of Jesus Christ to bring the Gospel to this condemned, sin cursed, world, we can never look back or desire to. Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.“
Jesus said plainly in John 14:15, “¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Jesus also said in Matthew 6:19-21, “¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” and likewise in Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Jesus also warned us in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” and similarly in Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.“
1 Corinthians 10:12, “¶Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.“
1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. ¶Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.”
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