11-03-2025 PART 3: Don’t Look Back: Mercy, Memory, and the Power of Intercession

Section 1
Lot’s wife becomes a lasting symbol of divided loyalty. As Genesis 19:26 recounts, she looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Dr. David underscores that this was not a myth or allegory—Jesus Himself referenced it in Luke 17:32, confirming its truth. Her backward glance revealed more than curiosity; it revealed attachment to a past God had condemned. The temptation to look back often disguises itself as nostalgia, but in reality, it’s a longing for bondage. Like Israel yearning for Egypt, it’s the heart’s rebellion against God’s forward call. True deliverance demands forward motion, and the Lord warns us that gazing back at what enslaved us halts our journey of faith.

Section 2
Dr. David contrasts how God occasionally invites remembrance—of His victories, not our defeats. Remembering bondage fondly distorts the past, inviting deception. He reminds listeners that Satan often romanticizes sin, whispering that “it wasn’t that bad.” Yet Hebrews 11 commends those who sought a better country, refusing to dwell on what they’d left behind. Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:13, urging believers to forget what lies behind and press toward the goal. Lot’s wife’s fate teaches that the past is meant for learning, not longing. Faith looks ahead—to the promises of God, not the ruins He’s delivered us from.

Section 3
When Abraham later rises early and sees smoke rising from Sodom and Gomorrah, he realizes the full devastation—but also witnesses divine mercy. Though the cities perished, Lot survived, not because of his righteousness, but because of Abraham’s intercession. God remembered His friend. Dr. David draws out a vital truth: intercession still moves the heart of God. Parents, grandparents, and loved ones can pray for those in danger, standing in the gap when their choices falter. God may not spare the city, but He can save the soul. Abraham’s dialogue with God models persistence and friendship with the Almighty—proof that divine mercy often travels on the road paved by faithful prayer.