Sometimes we don’t always mean to do what is wrong. Sometimes we have good intentions. Sometimes when we do something that turns out to be a disaster it did not begin that way. We were short sighted and did not look to what the consequences of our actions could be. Have you ever done something with the best of intentions that ended up being a complete and utter disaster? I know I have. I often rush into situations and not analyze what the consequences could be. Without knowing the whole situation and cautiously moving forward we can sometimes get ourselves in a world of trouble. Even worse when we ignore a direct order from God because we were told something so simple that we think, “nothing bad can happen.” Well Lot’s wife can sure be an example that even the smallest of instructions could be extremely important. When she looked back at her burning home how could she have known that disobeying that simple command to “not look back” would be something that would have consequences of ending her life? What do we look back to in our life that we know we are not supposed to? How harmful could it really be? With the story of Rebekah we see how the pursuit of our own plans could be hurtful. Rebekah was a mother that wanted what was best for her son…at the expense of her oldest son. Little did she know that her plan would ruin the balance of the families of Jacob and Esau? What plans have you put in motion that could upset God’s perfect balance?

Lot’s Wife: What are we looking back for?

Genesis 19: we find the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

1-What does anyone know about Sodom and Gomorrah?

a-Who lived there and why were they all destroyed?

b-Why were some sparred?

2-Lot’s family had been given extremely simple instructions (Gen 19:17) “And as they brought them out, one (angel) said, ‘Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.’”

a-Why would it be hard to follow these directions?

b-Lot’s wife turned to look back: we don’t know if it was for curiosity or outright disobedience-whatever the reason she turned into a pillar of salt

3-How often do we look back to our sinful past instead of fixating on our future of salvation (Luke 17)

“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.”

Rebekah: The mistake of meddling

1-Who was Rebekah? (Genesis 25-27)

a-The wife of Isaac; daughter in law of Abraham

b-She was barren until God opened her womb & she gave birth to twin boys (Jacob & Esau)

2-Her children:

a-Esau: the firstborn (who would receive both the inheritance and the blessing) was named “hairy” for he was covered in red hair

b-Jacob: the second born (who would receive nothing) was named “heel-catcher” until he was later named Israel (one that wrestles with God)

-Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite

3-Rebekah tricked Esau and Isaac into giving both the blessing and inheritance to Jacob. Why was this wrong? What were the consequences of this?