Looking and Lingering
Daily Old Testament Reading: Genesis 18-22
Daily Focus Passage: Genesis 19
The call of God often challenges us to leave what we know and move to where God leads us. The leading occurs for various reasons. Sometimes these callings occur to provide safety or to carry out the will and plans of the Lord. In Genesis 19, Lot received the call to leave the place of Sodom and Gomorrah for the purpose of escaping the coming destruction. Genesis 19 informs us that two impacting events occur as Lot and his family receives the call to leave. First, the Bible tells us that Lot lingered. Second, the Bible tells us that Lot's wife looked back. These two responses demonstrate the struggle that often occurs in following the Lord.
THE THREAT OF LINGERING
Lingering occurs when a person hangs around instead of moving along. Lingering means that an individual stays in one place without a purpose and just is there. When the Bible mentions that Lot lingered, we discover that Lot delayed his obedience to the Lord by not responding immediately, but instead, he chose to hang around. Lingering causes at least three issues in following the Lord.
First, lingering occurs when we struggle to commit entirely to the Lord. Lot lingered as he remained in the city. The lingering was encouraged because Lot struggled to let go of what he knew and the benefits of living in the city. He acknowledged the need to abandon the cities in obedience to the Lord, but his delay demonstrated his struggle to commit completely to the Lord and trust in the plan of God entirely. In what ways do you linger by not wholly submitting to the Lord?
Second, lingering occurs when we forget the goodness of the Lord. The benefits of living in Sodom and Gomorrah caused Lot to linger because he forgot that God's goodness outweighed the goodness of the world. When we allow the things of this world to become our "goodness, " we become primed to linger because we fail to trust or remember the goodness of the Lord. We fail to recognize that his calling is good, acceptable, and perfect. What things tempt you to linger because you forget the goodness of the Lord?
Third, lingering occurs when we become comfortable in the world. Lot struggle to leave the known and adventure into the unknown. The Lord's calling threatened Lot's comfortable life and forced him to choose obedience or comfort. Comfort can delay our response to the Lord as we seek to find a way to experience God’s will in life and the comfort of the known. How is comfort keeping you from stepping into the will of the Lord?
THE THREAT OF LOOKING BACK
As Lot and his family leave the cities, they must focus on what lies ahead and look back. The underlying truth details the importance of keeping our eyes on the goal set by the Lord that is before us. The activity of looking back keeps us from the goal ahead and causes us to stumble in our pursuit. As Lot's wife looked back, she faced the penalty of becoming a pillar of salt because of her disobedience. The threat of looking back causes at least three issues as we pursue the goals set by the Lord.
First, looking back causes one to fail in letting go of the past. Lot’s wife gazed back to the cities as they departed. The return look demonstrated an allowance of the past holding on so tight that obedience to the Lord became impossible. When we hold onto the past, we cannot journey into the future faithfully because our attention becomes on what was and not what God is doing. What in your past keeps you from faithfulness in the present and the future?
Second, looking back, questions God's will. When Lot’s wife looked back, she demonstrated an attitude of questioning God’s will and plan for her family's life. She questions Lot’s receiving the Lord's directives and doubts the journey ahead. The known and comfortable far outweighed God’s will, so she questions God’s plan. When we look back, we fail to continue the pursuit of God’s will. This abandonment of pursuit leads to a place of disobedience and faltering. How are you looking back and questioning the will of God instead of pressing forward?
Third, looking back reveals the desire of the heart. Lot’s wife was consumed with the cities. She found her identity there, and they became part of her. When she gazed back, she demonstrated a love for the city that dominated her life. Thus, her heart's desire became known in the act of looking in reverse instead of looking to God’s purpose. What are you gazing at? What does your gaze reveal about your heart?
When we read Genesis 19, the Lord sought to rescue Lot and his family from the devastating destruction coming to Sodom and Gomorrah. The plan of deliverance insisted that they depart and abandon. Unfortunately, Lot lingered, and his wife looked back. In what ways is the Lord calling you to obedience? Are you caught lingering instead of responding? Are you looking back instead of moving forward?
