LOT'S WIFE                                                                                               Genesis 19: 1 – 26

 

Why do we always have to do what the men tell us?

Sometimes I long for an opinion and a life of my own.

 

I was settled in Sodom, settled at last after an age of journeying. I had a lovely home and had gathered beautiful things around me. I loved my life.

 

I know some of the neighbours could be a bit high-spirited, especially when they'd had a drink or two, but no one ever did us any harm. I was settled.

 

Then the two strangers arrived and soon had Lot eating out of the palms of their hands. He was bowing and scraping and ingratiating himself as if they were something special.

 

I knew there was going to be trouble when some of the local lads, a bit the worse for wear, came knocking on the door, but I didn't expect this.

 

I've been dragged out of my own home with no time to even pack a few belongings. I've had to leave all the things I've come to know and love and for what? For a pokey little village nearby with no amenities and no facilities. And why? Because two men we don't even know have put the fear of God into Lot and convinced him the city is going to be destroyed.

 

“Don't look back,” they said. Now I'm one of those sorts of people that if I've got a spot I should leave alone I pick it; if I'm trying to cut out cake I resist for so long and then end up having a bigger piece than normal. So if somebody tells me not to do something I'm burning to do exactly that.

 

I mean, how do we know this isn't some sort of elaborate con, “The city's being destroyed, don't look back.”

 

I could be fleeing from all I've come to value for no reason at all.

 

I need to know what's happening. I'll just have one quick glimpse; that can't do any harm.