Remember Lot's Wife, by Jesse Dorcas

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 19, 1858

"Remember Lot's Wife,"

By Jesse Dorcas

How long? As long as right and wrong may be the choice of men and women. So long as the fleeting moments of probation still linger. There are two or three interesting considerations that I wish to notice in connection with this interesting and instructive incident.

1. Lot was a righteous man, though his wife was overtaken with the just judgment of God. This should serve to show us the impartiality of God, as well as to encourage those who may be unfortunate enough to have wives similar to Lot's wife—hesitating, unbelieving.

I fancy I see Mrs. Lot, on that memorable evening that the messengers came to their house, sitting back in a corner, rather unsociable, probably with her bonnet on, thinking over matters rather hastily, as the angels were talking familiarly, yet positively, with her husband, concluding to herself that there was no use in making so much disturbance about such matters, as to have everybody against them.

We may conclude that this state of things had a powerful influence upon Lot, for in the "morning the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise take thy wife;" as if they had said, It may be that thy wife might never consent cheerfully to go, do thy duty decidedly, promptly, "lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city."

Here we see that notwithstanding Lot's righteousness, had he remained one day longer, his case would have been decided fatally. The wife has a powerful influence either for good or evil. And it may have been owing mainly to the influence of Lot's wife upon her daughters, that they were worldly, and wicked, and so influenced their husbands that they were not disposed to listen to the last message of mercy to them.

O how much evil arises in the world from an unwholesome, undecided maternal influence. Of the Scriptures it is said, "All these things were written for our learning, that we through comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

Thanks be to God, that even under as unfavorable circumstances as those under which Lot was placed, God's people may make their escape and deliver their souls.

2. Had Lot not done his duty, even under so trying circumstances, and in the midst of that wicked city, he would have fallen with the rest of the ungodly around him.

Let us therefore take encouragement from the consideration, that though men will not hear; though our relatives will not obey the message of God to the guilty world now, it is possible for us to be

saved, though the "righteous scarcely be saved."

Let us also take warning; for though we may be related to the righteous by the strongest earthly ties, it will afford us no security in the evil day. And though we may have been urged, most kindly, most affectionately, (for Lot's wife was taken by the hand, as well as Lot and his daughters, and set outside of the city,) and go so far as to get out of the city of Babylon, yet we may be overtaken with wrath, if we do not do our duty faithfully outside of the great city.

O my brethren and sisters, let us escape for our lives, and look not behind, for the city will surely be "utterly burned with fire." "Remember Lot's wife!"

JESSE DORCAS.