Don’t Look Back!

GETTING STARTED

It would be difficult to drive a car on today’s streets without a rearview mirror. However, if we spend too much time looking in the rearview mirror taking in what is behind us, the results could be disastrous. Previously, Lot and his family were given specific driving instructions, so to speak. As we read today, we find Lot’s wife was so enamored with looking in the rearview mirror that she missed what God had for her ahead.

  • What events or relationships from your past do you occasionally (or even regularly) think about?

READ THE WORD: GENESIS 19:23-29 (ESV)

23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What did the Lord use to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (vs. 24)? List the things that were destroyed in verse 25. What did Abraham see the next morning when he looked down on the valley where Sodom and Gomorrah had been (vs. 28)?
  2. Lot was commanded to leave Sodom, and Lot and his family were supernaturally removed when he hesitated (Genesis 19:12-16). The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was violent and complete. Despite all this, Lot’s wife stopped and looked back. Why do you think Lot’s wife was so tempted to look back?
  3. Why was it permissible for Abraham to look on the cities that had been destroyed with no repercussion? How was this different from what Lot’s wife had done?
  4. What events or relationships in your past might God be calling you to let go of in order to move forward in obedience to him? 

RESPOND TO GOD

Lot and his family had become so entrenched in the culture of Sodom and Gomorrah they could not recognize God’s holiness, love, and provision. We do the very same thing. We question God’s provision, we want our own way, and we don’t want to accept the discipline that he delivers. When we live with both feet in the world, it can be difficult to trust in God’s plans for us. It is good to reflect on our past to realize sin, mistakes, and wrong thinking, but we cannot live there because it doesn’t allow us to move forward in freedom to the future God has provided. Looking back will keep you from moving forward.

  • Thank God that he saved you from sin and death.
  • Ask God to show you what you are holding on to that you need to let go of in order to follow him in obedience.