Remember Lot’s Wife

How much value do you place on studying the Old Testament?   You might be surprised, but  some seem to think that a study of the Old Testament is a waste of time and energy.  The idea is that since we live under the New Testament/Law of Christ, we ought to avoid the Old Testament.  Is that line of thinking correct?  Is that line of thinking even Scriptural?  Let us use a New Testament verse to show the need for not only studying the Old Testament, but knowing It as well.

During His time on Earth, Jesus quoted and made reference to many things contained in the Old Testament.  The one reference that I want us to examine carefully is actually a very short one.  Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).  For someone who is not familiar with the Old Testament, this verse presents some problems.  First of all, who is Lot?  Second, why should I remember anything about his wife?.  Jesus was counting on His listeners to have had a reasonable understanding of both Lot and his wife.  So should we.

By going to the Old Testament, we learn that Lot was the son of Haran and the nephew of Abram/Abraham (Gen. 11:27).  Haran “…died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees” (Gen. 11:28).  While we are not told the age of Lot when his father died, we do know that Terah, Lot’s grandfather, outlived Haran.  Thus, at some fairly early point of his life, Lot was without his father.  Later, before Abram entered the land of Canaan, Terah also died, leaving Lot without his grandfather as well.  We do not know anything else about Lot until we get to the dispute that his herdmen had against Abram’s herdmen (Gen. 13:5-13).  Both Lot and Abram had cattle, and the land where they dwelt was not large enough for both herds.  Abram showed a great deal of humility by allowing his younger nephew to make the choice of which land his herd would use.  Unfortunately, as is the case at different times, a younger person (Lot) made an unwise and costly choice.  Lot based his decision on the physical blessings that he would acquire instead of the spiritual consequences that his family would have to endure.  As a result, “Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom (Gen. 13:12).  The legacy of Sodom is not one to be favored.  As is written, “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (Gen. 13:13).  To this day, the term “sodomite” refers to a homosexual man.  Contrary to what some want to claim, homosexuality is something that has long been sinful (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9).  That is the environment that Lot chose for he and his family (Gen. 14:12).  All of the aforementioned tells us about Lot, but what about his wife?

After a period of time, God made the decision to punish Sodom due to their sin being “grievous” (Gen. 18:20-21).  Two angels were sent to Sodom, and it happened that Lot was sitting “in the gate” as they entered into the city (Gen. 19:1).  Lot immediately sought to have the angels stay the night in his home (Gen. 19:2-3).  Perhaps Lot anticipated the deplorable desires and actions that would be brought upon those who were new in the city (Gen. 19:4-11).  Whatever the reason, after the men of Sodom showed their sinful ways, Lot was asked, “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” (Gen. 19:12-13).  After being unsuccessful in persuading his sons-in-law to leave, Lot, his wife, and their two daughters were hastened out of Sodom (Gen. 19:15-16).  It was then that Lot was told, “…Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed” (Gen. 19:17).  After pleading, Lot was given the option of retreating to the city of Zoar instead (Gen. 19:18-23).  However, the command to “look not behind thee” was still in effect.  Shortly later, “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” (Gen. 19:24-25).  That still does not explain to us why Jesus said “Remember Lot’s wife”.  That is until we read the next verse.  “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Gen. 19:26).  By studying and knowing the Old Testament, we learn that God means what He says, and also that Jesus wanted the first century disciples to keep looking “forward” instead of getting discouraged and distracted by things around them (Luke 17:22).  Luke also wrote another warning that Jesus said, “…No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61).

Without the Old Testament, and a study thereof, we would be ignorant of some of God’s Word (Rom. 15:4).  There is great value in studying the Old Testament.  For it has been said, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed”.
~ Corey Barnette