Genesis 19:26

2007.Aug.27 21:33

Lot’s wife

Read Genesis 19:26 | Full Chapter

But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
(Genesis 19:26, ESV)

In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, Slaughterhouse Five, he discusses this moment:

And Lot’s wife, of course, was told not to look back where all those people and their homes had been. But she did look back, and I love her for that, because it was so human. So she was turned to a pillar of salt. So it goes.

Anyway, that’s what The Quotations Page says he wrote. I have the book, but I may forget to check. Anyway, that stuck with me. It is a very human reaction. When we leave behind something that is part of our life, we often want that one last look. We may keep a piece of memorabilia, perhaps some silly thing that would mean nothing to someone else. Lot’s wife is leaving her home, her community. It’s a pretty crummy community, but it is the community that she and her family became a part of, after they split ways with Lot’s relatives.

So, I understand her looking back. It is very human. It’s pretty amazing that she was the only one of the four who did so. But it’s also very striking that she was behind Lot. I checked about five other versions and all but one had language indicating she was physically following Lot. As a husband, this pisses me off. I’d like to hope that there would never be a situation in which I would run ahead of my wife when running from danger. Heck, even when we’re driving home in separate cars, I like for her to be in front of me. Because I want myself between any danger and her and because I want to be able to respond immediately if something happens. I can’t know if she’s in danger if she’s behind me. Now, that may be foolish when considering which one of us would better handle this indeterminate danger and there’s times that I’ve acted differently than this–when, because I’ve been busy, I haven’t immediately responded to a problem. Which is a problem I need to work on. But, come on, Lot. City being destroyed. Get between your wife and it! (By the way, men who claim their religion says that women should walk behind them need to have their —- cut off and shoved down their throats. My opinion.)

This again suggests to me that Lot has issues of selfishness and fear which override his care for his family and his desire for righteousness. How easily such emotions and attitudes (especially of selfishness) can get in the way of the actions we should be taking and in the way of faith. Lot may have had faith, but it seems that he had a lot of other stuff. Lot’s wife may have had faith, but she also had some other stuff. I’m inclined to be more understanding of her stuff than of his. But, so what? In either case, how much more could they have had by seeking first Jehovah. And how much more I? That’s our rhetorical question for today.