But [Lot’s] wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26 AMPC)
Footnotes
- Genesis 19:26 Lot’s wife not only “looked back” to where her heart’s interests were, but she lingered behind; and probably overtaken by the fire and brimstone, her dead body became incrusted with salt, which, in that salt-packed area now the Dead Sea, grew larger with more incrustations—a veritable “pillar of salt.” In fact, at the southern end of the Dead Sea there is a mountain of table salt called Jebel Usdum, “Mount of Sodom.” It is about six miles long, three miles wide, and 1,000 feet high. It is covered with a crust of earth several feet thick, but the rest of the mountain is said to be solid salt (George T. B. Davis, Rebuilding Palestine According to Prophecy). Somewhere in this area Lot’s wife looked back to where her treasures and her heart were, and “she became a pillar of salt.” Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
REFLECTION
There’s world of difference between reflection (in the best sense of the word) and looking back (with a longing to go back because the right way forward is hard).
Pausing and prayerfully reflecting on God’s Word and His wonderful ways can cultivate a closer connection with our Creator and yield encouraging insight, which can also encourage others. And this kind of reflection can positively inform and impact all the other definitions of reflection.
But – looking back with longing because going forward looks unbearable is the antithesis of faith and is a very dangerous indulgence. It can cause confusion and keep us stuck in a holding pattern of longing for what was lost and invite resentment, bitterness, blame, envy, self-pity, sloth (and the like) into the mix, and make a bad situation worse.
So let’s prioritise our relationship with our Maker, our ever-present help, knowing that we can always come to Him as we are – with all our issues and concerns – and walk with Him through everything, trusting that He will help us to cooperate with Him in the sanctification and transformation process.
PRAYER POEM: Stay Close
Loving Lord, please help me to stay close to You, every day, come what may. For Your way is always right and the light of Your love will forever burn bright.
