Remember Lot's Wife

“But Lot’s wife looked back longingly and was turned into a pillar of salt.” –Genesis 19:26, NET

Women in the east typically walked behind the man, and it was in the rear that Lot’s wife lacked accountability (see the lesson) and was tempted to steal a longing look in express disobedience to the angel’s command (v.17). I would argue that since judgment reigned down AFTER Lot reached Zoar (v.23). Her transformation is mentioned here only because it was then that her absence was noticed, a salt pillar resembling her figure marked their path. Let us not be deceived by popular visuals. Lot’s wife did not look back with curiosity after feeling the intensity of the inferno or hearing the hammering of fire upon her home. Rather, she heard and felt no signs of judgment, and defiantly looked to the lush land (Gen 13:10) she loved.

“Her looking back spoke an inclination to go back,” (Benson Commentary), much like the grumblers that followed Moses at the first taste of struggle (Exo 16:3). NET adds “longingly,” and Christ clarifies this was the heart of her reverse gaze. 

[Jesus said] “Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.” –Luke 17:32-33

We cannot love (and serve) both the wealth of this world (mammon) and God (Mat 6:24). We cannot be bound to this physical world and yet love and serve the King of heaven. A decision must be made. And let us not think that falling in line means our hearts have submitted and we are truly following. A day of testing will come. If our hearts are hard, our faithlessness will be revealed when we look back (v.17) and long for slavery over surrender (Num 14:3-4; Gal 5:1). Though our outward appearance may remain unchanged, the cares of the world will be like salt on the field of our hearts (Jer 17:6), choking out the life of the word so that it “produces nothing” (Mark 4:18-19).

“Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” –Luke 9:61-62, NET

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.” – Colossians 3:1-5, NET