Looking Back to Sodom
Lot's wife looked back
Intro
A. 2 Peter 2:6 Sodom is an example of the Judgement of God against all ungodliness
B. Genesis history is railed on as another myth especially by the liberal gay community for obvious reasons. Can Christians relegate the fire and brimstone of Sodom to fantasy or legend? No
1. Prophecies throughout the Bible compare the doom of nations to the doom of Sodom: Moses warns of Israel's downfall by reference to Sodom, Deut. 28:23; 32:32. Isaiah and Jeremiah warn of Babylon's fall in terms of Sodom, Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40. Jeremiah warns of Edom's fall referring to Sodom, Jer. 49:18; Numerous other Scriptures assume the history of Sodom as true to refer to the fall of nations: Isa. 1:9, 10; Jer. 23:14; Lam. 4:6; Amos 4:11; Zeph. 2:9
2. Jesus declares the displeasure of God toward cities that would not receive Him and his disciples by saying it would be more tolerable for Sodom onthe day of judgement, Matt. 10:15; 11:24; Luke 17:29 (of Jerusalem).
C. If Sodom and Gomorrah were really destroyed by fire and brimstone, then Lot's wife was also turned into pillar of salt because she looked back -- against the orders of the Angel of God.
-- Why did she look back?
I. The culture of Sodom and the five cities of the Jordan river plain.
A. Prosperity, Gen. 13:10
1. The plain of Jordan was well watered everywhere even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
2. Ezekiel 16:48-50 Sin of Sodom included pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness.... and she did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy...
3. It was a nice place to live, physically speaking. Plenty of food and comfort and free
B. There were dangers caused by their wicked lifestyles. Gen 14:14-16 God gave the Chaldean alliance victory over the kings of the cities of the plain as well as many cities throughout Canaan. Lot and his family were at the wrong place at the wrong time and were carried away to become slaves in a foreign land. Happily, God was with his uncle Abraham who overtook the Chaldeans and defeated them returning the prisoners to their lands.
1. Prosperity is useless if there is no security.
2. Prosperity and security is useless if there is a wicked society that can corrupt the family.
C. Sodom and the prosperous cities were filled such wickedness that God determined to destroy them completely.
1. Gen. 13:13 "wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly."
2. 2 Peter 2:7 Lot was vexed daily
3. Isa. 3:9 Sins of Sodom were on display.
4. Jer. 23:14 Sodom was adultery, falsehood, and they strengthened the hands of the evil-doers. Rom 1:32 Enablers of the evil.
5. Jude 7-8 Gross immorality, went after strange flesh
D. Again I ask, Why did she look back? Imagine looking back and longing for such things! Imagine God's point of view on seeing this woman defying his orders to not look back and judging the righteousness of God judgement in destroying this culture?
1. Yet Jesus warns us that we also can do the same thing.
2. Luke 17:28-32. Context is a prophecy of the righteous destruction of Jerusalem. He says, flee and don't go back. He is trying to save their lives even as He is trying to save our souls.
II. Why not look back?
A. When God condemns, it is evil to complain.
1. Lev. 10:1-3 sons of Aaron not to be mourned... in spite of the family affections
2. Lot's wife forbidden to long for the land that was being destroyed by the righteous indignation of God.
B. Jesus tells us not to look back, Luke 9:62
1. When Jesus invites to follow Him, it is insulting to mourn the cost either economically or socially or any other earthly cost.
2. As a farmer plowing is not fit to plow if he is looking back. Makes for crooked furrows.
3. Many disciples went back when Jesus began demanding they accept His teaching. John 6:66
4. Joshua demanded they choose whom they would serve and not to go back to the gods of Egypt, Joshua 23:12.
5. Paul says he counted his past as garbage and made it his ambition to forget the past both the pleasant and evil to reach forward, Phil 3:13
C. Part of repentance is Putting off the OLD MAN as you put on the NEW MAN, Eph. 4:17-22.