SALT

"Salt”

Text: Genesis 19:26

Intro

Turn to Genesis 18

When fleeing Sodom, as it was being destroyed by Divine judgment, Lot’s wife disobeyed the Lord (cp. Genesis 19:17) and suffered disastrous judgment as a result.

Read Genesis 18:20-21

Because of their great sin, God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).

-The Clear Command (Gen 19:17)

Lagging, Longing, Looking

I. THE PRACTICE OF HER DISOBEDIENCE

“But his wife looked back.”

Looking back showed some problems in Lot’s wife.

Sometimes, we have the same problem.

A. Looking

“Looked back.”

Much sin comes through the eye gate.

Movies, and now television has diminished much Christian zeal and ruined many a Christian life.

Be careful at what you look at or you will corrupt and ruin your life.

ILL: Eve “saw” that the fruit was good...

Don’t look at sin!

Lamentations 3:51 KJV - 51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart...

What we look at affects our heart!

ILL: kids on the ipad too long…they get very disobedient.

Matthew 5:29 KJV - 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Your eyes will lead your life.

B. Longing

“Looked back.”

The Hebrew word from which is translated “looked” involves desire.

Lot’s wife longed for the things of cursed Sodom.

Her desires were misplaced

“Set your affections on things above, not on things of this world” (Colossians 3:2) is the needed exhortation here.

ILL: Israelites longing for Egypt.

ILL: Samson longing for the things of the world.

ILL: as a teen I longed for things

II. THE PLACE OF HER DISOBEDIENCE

“From behind him.”

Lot’s wife was in the wrong place and this encouraged her disobedience.

A. Lagging Behind

“From behind him”

Lot’s wife did not have much zeal for the things of God, She was lagging behind.

Earlier, the angels had to grab her hand along with Lot’s hand and literally drag them out of Sodom (Genesis 19:16).

The wicked city had destroyed their dedication to doing the will of God.

B. Flawed Logic

“From behind him.”

Being behind Lot meant she could could sin easily.

Some places make it easier to sin than other places.

First, she could look without being seen. If it appears we can sin without being caught it encourages us to sin.

Second, she could look without being scolded.

Without being seen she would not be scolded or preached at by anyone.

Third, she could look without being stopped.

Being behind meant that no one would try to stop her.

However, we can thank God for any circumstance that hinder our sinning.

God is watching.

Make yourself accountable

III. THE PRODUCT OF HER DISOBEDIENCE

“She became a pillar of salt,”

Disobedience resulted in judgment. The rebellious sinner will come under the anathema of God.

A. The Dysfunction in her Judgment

“She became a pillar of salt.”

Lot’s wife became worthless, she was no longer of any use in God’s service.

Sin will make you dysfunctional in God’s service.

Many folk have rendered themselves useless to the Lord through their sinfulness.

She was knocked out.

ILL: Missionary no longer in missions because of sin

B. The Monument of her Judgment

“She became a pillar of salt.”

She became a memorial of disobedience to God

That pillar gave no honor to Lot’s wife it only shamed here.

And the story of the pillar keeps shaming her.

Sin does not honor the sinner.

It says it will but it only shames the sinner

Conclusion

Obey Immediately

Obey Completely

John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.