Looking forward to God's promises

There is so much to learn from the Bible; every woman mentioned is intentionally placed there by our amazing Heavenly Father. These different women, I believe, were placed to help guide us women through different seasons in our lives. Whatever season you are in, I encourage you to learn from the women of the Bible. If you are in a season of life change, perhaps the Lord has delivered you from a season of worldly pleasures. I encourage you to read about Lot's wife found in Genesis chapter 19.

In this story, you learn of Lot who was told to flee the land of Sodom. For Sodom was so wicked, the Lord said it was to be destroyed. At the time, Lot was living life as a wealthy man in the city of Sodom, his daughters were engaged to the men of the city. Life wasn't to shabby. But Sodom was a wicked city guilty of much (that's a different story). Let's focus on Genesis 19:17 NIV where angels tell Lot "...Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away." He wanted them to turn from the worldly pleasures and look ahead to salvation.

Reading this, you may be thinking... umm I thought we were here to learn about women in the Bible? Yes, so here is the point. Genesis 19:26 is where the lesson is. "But Lot's wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt". Not only was she disobedient; as she was told "do not look back, but Lot's wife longed for the life she had in Sodom, she turned around to long for the life God was actively delivering her from. She turned to look back at the worldly life she was leaving behind instead of the salvation she was receiving.

If you read this thinking, hmm this is feeling a little familiar... don't fret you are not alone.

I remember a time not long ago I was in a bad situation relationally. I prayed and read the word and worshiped the Lord, and the Lord delivered me from this bad spiritual, emotional, relational, financially devastating situation that was slowly destroying me. He brought me out of that situation, gave me a new life, the life I had always prayed for, a life that strives to glorify the Lord. But, in the beginning of my healing journey, I remembered missing the good parts of this bad situation. I found myself reminiscing about the laughs and good times this situation gave me, I can remember stupidly thinking... did I make a mistake?

But then it hit me, here I am just like Lot's wife... reminiscing about a life full of worldly pleasures instead of focusing on the new life the Lord gave me, the new heart he created in me that longs to glorify the Lord. God calls us to repent (literally to turn away from sin) and when he delivers us from worldly things it's like he is turning us away from sin. Don't look back. Ephesians 4:22 NIV "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires."

Luke 17:32 NIV "Remember Lot's wife"... 170 women mentioned in the Bible and the Lord tells us to remember one... Lot's wife, we don't even know her name... but we are to remember what happened to her... what an amazing lesson the Lord teaches us in this. I encourage us all to look forward to the blessings we have, the future we are promised; it is infinitely better than any situation God has delivered us from. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I pray for each woman that reads this, may we look forward to a life that glorifies the Lord and turns away from worldly desires; may we embrace the salvation the Lord has given us.

Today this "pillar of salt" stands 300 feet high near the Dead Sea at Mount Sodom.