When he hesitated
Lot is told by the angels that it is time to get out of Dodge. But even though he knows punishment is coming to Sodom he hesitates. He needs to make a break with this part of his life but is reluctant to do so. The mercy of the LORD is so strong as to give him the push he needs as angels drag him and his family forth.
Look, this town ahead is near enough to escape to.
It’s only a small place.
The LORD plans for Lot to go farther but he does not insist. In the face of such a pressing disaster God still provides for Lot's human weakness. It is encouraging to see the LORD's provision for our mortal frailty in not insisting on perfection all at once.
“I will also grant you the favor you now ask.
Although Lot and his family are dragged from Sodom the LORD does not take away their free will. He shows mercy. But in the end, they must leave Sodom behind freely. They must make a decisive break with the land of wickedness.
But Lot’s wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Their escape must be difficult. It is an arduous journey even without fire raining from the sky. But the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is beginning. Sulphur is falling. Their past is being destroyed. It is, in a way, understandable that Lot's wife looks back. Let it be a lesson for us as to how dangerous it can be to look back when God is calling us on. The sins of the past can pull us back down and ensnare us. They can even be our undoing.
In the midst of the storms that assail us Jesus must be our certainty. All we have between us and the raging sees is the boat, that is, the Church. We see the waves toss it and we fear for our lives. Jesus appears to be unresponsive to our plight. We may be very tempted to try to something drastic out of fear just as Lot's wife did.
His disciples trust him more than this. They can still see that the boat in which he is traveling is the best option. They don't just jump overboard in fear. But their faith is still in need of perfecting.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
It is not that they are asking for the wrong thing. However, the presence of Jesus should be enough for them. If they truly recognize who he is they will not fear though storms may come. Even if he seems indifferent to the storms they will trust him. Even if he seems asleep they will realize that, in his divinity, he slumbers not, nor sleeps (cf. Psalm 121:4).
We must trust Jesus even in the midst of storms. Even if he seems asleep we can take comfort that he directs our hearts even at night (cf. Psalm 16:7). There is no need to fear. This ship won't sink. The Church will persevere. Eventually the storm will be calmed.
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
We long for this great calm. Let us also have confidence that he intends it for us. Lot's wife doesn't look beyond her past or imminent sufferings and she is turned to salt. Trusting in the LORD we will be brought by angels to a place of calm heretofore unknown.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the assemblies I will bless the LORD.
Let us not neglect to be thankful for the wonders which the LORD does for us. They inspire us and draw us on. They help us to have confidence when the next storm comes. We know that he is the LORD and that every storm is subject to him.
“What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
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