This is just a simple post to highlight how important it is to always keep our eyes on Yeshua. There are a couple of key stories in the Bible that I feel we look over without thinking much into them. However, the lesson learned from these stories is extremely valuable to all aspects of our lives, mentally physically, and spiritually.
The first story that we’re going to focus on is about Lot and his wife. The big take here from this particular story is to never look back at what we have been delivered from. If we keep focus on Yashua at all times, nothing can stop us, and nothing can attack us. He is our Salvation, He is Everything.
We are never told the name of Lot's wife, but that doesn't lessen her importance, not by any means. She is also mentioned in The Apocryphal Book - The Wisdom of Solomon - as “an unbelieving soul”.
"Evidence of their wickedness still remains: continually smoking wasteland, plants bearing fruit that does not ripen,and a pillar of salt standing as a monument to an unbelieving soul." - Wisdom of Solomon 10:7
I’m sure most everyone is familiar with these stories, so I will just list some key verses to best illustrate my point.
“Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place.
For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”
So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.”
But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”
And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords.
Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there--is it not a little one?--and my life will be saved!”
He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.
Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.
Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven.
And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.“ - Genesis 19:12-26
The key to this story is to understand that obedience to G*d is first and foremost. Lot’s wife was so close to deliverance, but she just had to look back when she was specifically told not to, thus bringing forth her own tragic demise. When G*d delivers us from something terrible in this life, we are never to look back. We must keep our focus on him at all times and continue to move forward. That doesn’t mean that we should ever forget about what G*d has delivered us from, as these trials bring us strength and growth in all aspects of our lives. The point is that we simply cannot live in the past. What’s done is done and Yeshua, learn from it all and move forward - never losing sight of The Grace of Yeshua and what He has done for us. What good is it for us to relive those dark days that HaShem has so gracefully brought us out of? When we do think back on these times, we should only think about how great of a gift it was that we were delivered from them by the Grace of G*d.
Update - February 24, 2024
Ever so often The LORD will give me A Word to reaffirm what He has already taught me and led me to write about and share with others. Today He affirmed this particular section of this post with the following obvious verse, from Luke's Gospel. It couldn't be any more clear.
"Remember Lot's wife." - Luke 17:32
“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” - Matthew 14:22-33
This is another famous story that I’m sure we’re all very familiar with. When Yeshua told Peter to come out of the boat and walk out on the water, he was in good shape as long as he kept his eyes on Yeshua. We know that he looked away as the scripture explicitly tells us that “when he saw the wind, he was afraid”, and that’s when he started to sink. This cannot be more clear, when we life brings us storms, look to Yeshua and never stop looking to Him. Only He can help us weather the storms in this life.
Another very important lesson that we should all take from this story is about fear. Our fear separates us from G*d. Only G*d is worthy of our fear, period. Fear will absolutely sink us, just as Peter’s fear caused him to sink.
We can achieve great things with great faith. The more faith that we have, the more The Holy Spirit will dwell within us and begin to manifest great things in our lives. We have been given the authority to do supernatural, miraculous works through The Power of His Holy Name. When Peter had absolute faith, he was able to walk on water. When he took his eyes off Yeshua and began to fear the world around him, he sank like a stone. This world will surely sink us like stones without The Grace of Our LORD and Savior Yeshua.
May we all have Eyes to See His Face so that we never loose sight of His Presence in Our Lives. B’Shem Yeshua Amen!
חסד ושלום עליכם והרבה אהבה וברכות
May Grace and Peace Be Upon You and Much Love and Blessings!
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