Sermons of Robert Murray MCheyne 8. Lot's Wife

Extract

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

There is not in the whole Bible a more instructive history than that of Lot and his family. His own history shows well how the righteous scarcely are saved. His sons-in-law show well the way in which the Gospel is received by the easy, careless world. His wife is a type of those who are convinced, yet never converted — who flee from the wrath to come, yet perish after all; whilst the angels’ laying hold on the lingering family, is a type of the gracious violence and sovereign mercy which God uses in delivering souls.
At present I mean to direct your thoughts to the case of Lot’s wife, and to show the following.

Doctrine. — Many souls who have been awakened to flee from wrath, look behind, and are lost.

I. Many flee, under terrors of natural conscience; but when these subside, they look back, and are lost. So it was with Lot’s wife. She was not like the men of Sodom — intent upon the world and sin — quite unconcerned about their souls. She was not like her sons -in-law — she did not think her husband mocking — she was really alarmed, and really fled; and yet her terrors were like the morning cloud and the early dew, which quickly pass away. When the angels had brought them out of the gates of Sodom, they said: “Escape for thy life, look not behind thee; neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. ” And as long as these dreadful words were ringing in her ears, doubtless she fled with anxious footstep. The dreadful scene of the past night — the darkness — the anxiety of her husband — the pressing urgency of the noble angel — all conspired to awaken her natural conscience, and to make her flee. But now …