LOOKED BACK
The whole story of Sodom and Gomorrah is very strange. People can get hung up on wether these cities existed. Indeed, archeologists are working at locations around the Dead Sea. One that is special is Tall el-Hammam on the Jordan River. The remains of a massive city is being unearthed and could possibly be Sodom. What interests me is how those upon whom God has his hand react to the events surrounding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the theme of the role of the wilderness in this story.
First there is the contrast of the hospitality offered the travellers, now recognized as messengers from God, between Abraham and the residents of Sodom. Unlike Abraham, the residents of Sodom want to treat them as objects to dominate; all except Lot. Cowardice is the consequence of unchecked fear. The bully always acts out of fear. The result of a bully’s life is destruction.
Lot and his family afforded the travelers hospitality mostly in the form of protection. They are taken outside the city walls and told to flee to the wilderness. Lot begs them to allow them to go to a neighboring city, a small city, and live there. The travelers tell them to escape there and they go. They are instructed about the danger of looking back. The time of the following events raises questions. They enter Zoar and its perceived safety. After they are in Zoar, Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. It is from Zoar that Lot’s wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt. Adding to the oddity of this moment, the narrative continues with Abraham looking out over the cities of the plain observing the smoke of the destruction. Abraham is not turned into salt, and continues to move forward in life. The contrast is “looking back” and the unfulfilled instruction to go to the mountains. Ultimately, Lot leaves Zoar in his old age and goes to the mountains.
The word used for “looked back” is transliterated nabat. This word actually means to look upon something with intensity, regarding its importance. Lot’s wife looked upon the destruction of the cities of the plain with such regard that she turned into a pillar of salt. Salt preserves many things, beginning with life itself. Lot's wife was preserved in the grip of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, never moving forward. When we are constantly looking back at destruction we can never look forward. When we are constantly looking back at sin or bad things that have happened to us, we cannot move forward.
In a way Lot was no different than his wife. He was told to go to the mountain wilderness where he could see vistas other than the one he left behind. Unfortunately, Lot chose what made him comfortable, the city life. He did go to the mountain, but I wonder if he had gone earlier would his life have been better. Maybe he wouldn't have needed to lay with his daughters to preserve his family.
Why is it we filter God’s promise through the experience of others? Is it not possible to have a personal relationship with God? What is the pull upon our soul that keeps always looking back? I have stood on those mountain tops and looked out over what appeared to be a virgin valley, untouched by another human being. The experience can only be shared through participation, never through words. I can only invite others by saying it is wonderful. That wilderness is all around us.
First there is the contrast of the hospitality offered the travellers, now recognized as messengers from God, between Abraham and the residents of Sodom. Unlike Abraham, the residents of Sodom want to treat them as objects to dominate; all except Lot. Cowardice is the consequence of unchecked fear. The bully always acts out of fear. The result of a bully’s life is destruction.
Lot and his family afforded the travelers hospitality mostly in the form of protection. They are taken outside the city walls and told to flee to the wilderness. Lot begs them to allow them to go to a neighboring city, a small city, and live there. The travelers tell them to escape there and they go. They are instructed about the danger of looking back. The time of the following events raises questions. They enter Zoar and its perceived safety. After they are in Zoar, Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. It is from Zoar that Lot’s wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt. Adding to the oddity of this moment, the narrative continues with Abraham looking out over the cities of the plain observing the smoke of the destruction. Abraham is not turned into salt, and continues to move forward in life. The contrast is “looking back” and the unfulfilled instruction to go to the mountains. Ultimately, Lot leaves Zoar in his old age and goes to the mountains.
The word used for “looked back” is transliterated nabat. This word actually means to look upon something with intensity, regarding its importance. Lot’s wife looked upon the destruction of the cities of the plain with such regard that she turned into a pillar of salt. Salt preserves many things, beginning with life itself. Lot's wife was preserved in the grip of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, never moving forward. When we are constantly looking back at destruction we can never look forward. When we are constantly looking back at sin or bad things that have happened to us, we cannot move forward.
In a way Lot was no different than his wife. He was told to go to the mountain wilderness where he could see vistas other than the one he left behind. Unfortunately, Lot chose what made him comfortable, the city life. He did go to the mountain, but I wonder if he had gone earlier would his life have been better. Maybe he wouldn't have needed to lay with his daughters to preserve his family.
Why is it we filter God’s promise through the experience of others? Is it not possible to have a personal relationship with God? What is the pull upon our soul that keeps always looking back? I have stood on those mountain tops and looked out over what appeared to be a virgin valley, untouched by another human being. The experience can only be shared through participation, never through words. I can only invite others by saying it is wonderful. That wilderness is all around us.
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