LOOK TO THE HILLS

“And as they brought them out, one said, ‘Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.’”  –Genesis 19:17, ESV

Lot was urged to get out of the valley completely, to flee to the “hills.” Why?

What is in this higher region to the west of the valley around the Dead Sea? Bethel (“house of God”), Jerusalem (“teaching of peace,” and the place God later chooses to place His name—a symbol for His people), Bethlehem (the city of David where Christ is born), and Hebron. This is where Abram settles following his split with Lot and builds an altar to the LORD (Gen 13:18). He still resides here when he rescues Lot and returns to hear God tell him, “I am your shield” (Gen 15:1). It is a powerful picture of the place where God dwells, offering His presence and protection to His people. See the call to Lot, and to us: “Look to the hills!”

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
–Psalm 121, ESV