Most people are familiar with the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. I think that Lot’s wife becoming a pillar of salt distracts from an important lesson in the story.
Angels, sent by God, told Lot to take his family and leave Sodom. Lot hesitated leaving so long that the angels had to literally grab Lot and his family by the hand and pull them out of the city. The angels then told Lot and his family to run for their lives and not to stop anywhere in the valley. They told them not to look back (the part everyone remembers because of Mrs. Lot). The angels also said, “Escape to the mountains, or you will die,” in verse 17 (NLT). Lot begged the angels to allow him to go to a small village in the valley because he was afraid bad things could happen in the mountains and feared he would die there. They got tired of Lot’s whining and reluctantly gave in because he was delaying their mission. Shortly after the flames died down, Lot ended up leaving the little village because he was scared of the people who lived there. Where did he go? Lot went to live in a cave in the mountains.
Lot chose to allow fear to rule his life instead of trusting God to protect him. God wanted Lot to live in the mountains, but not in a cave. God didn’t tell Lot to go hide in a cave in the mountains. If he had followed God’s direction without question, Lot could have been living with a mountain top view. Lot still ended up living in the mountains, but he missed the blessing God had prepared for him.
Lord, thank you for always having my best interest in mind. Please help me to put my trust in You and not allow fear to separate me from You and Your plans for me.
Have you ever been in a situation that God was calling you out of your comfort zone? What did you do? Share your thoughts in the comment area.
