MYSTERY OF HOLDING HANDS (1)

“And while HE LINGERED, the men took hold of HIS HAND, his wife’s HAND, and the HANDS of his two daughters” – Genesis 19:16a

The story of Lot and wife presents a tragic sample on the significance of the MYSTERY of HOLDING HANDS: “And while he LINGERED, the men took hold of HIS HAND, his wife’s HAND, and the HANDS of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city” (Gen.19:16). Two angels that had earlier departed from Abraham in Genesis 18:22 as he and the LORD continued their conversation, now visited Lot in Sodom. Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom, indicating he was a civic leader in this depraved, corrupt city (Gen.19:1). Bible commentaries suggest Lot’s steady retrogression into compromise. He went from looking toward Sodom (Gen.13:10), to pitching his tent toward Sodom (Gen.13:12), to living in Sodom (Gen.14:12), and losing everything to Sodom’s destruction.

This passage describes how the angel’s “reached out their HANDS and PULLED Lot into the house with them, and shut the door” (v.10). They showed Lot how he ought to use his HANDS to pull the rest of his family from the reach of the pressurizing Sodomites. Next, the angels warned Lot: “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city – TAKE THEM OUT of this place!” (v.12b). Lot then warned his family, but feebly. He didn’t sound like being ready or willing to TAKE others out of Sodom. His sons-in-law thought he was joking (v.14). His own reluctance was obvious: “While he LINGERED, the men TOOK HOLD of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters” (v.16). This was God’s Hand of Mercy at work. The angels literally SEIZED their hands!  

Yet, Lot lingered! Too much of his heart was in Sodom, so he didn’t have the urgency to leave the city. The angels tried their best by taking hold of Lot, his wife, and daughters – one hand for each – forcibly setting them outside the city, and finally instructing him: “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed” (v.17b). The angels seemed far more urgent to rescue Lot and his family than they were to be rescued. Even at that, Lot still argued, pleaded, and bargained against divine instructions; to be allowed to stay in a nearby little city (Zoar), rather than make the effort to escape to the mountains! Again, Mercy permitted!

As the angel assured, judgement could not come until Lot and his family were safe in Zoar (v.22). The moment Lot entered Zoar, “the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah” (v.23a). These cities were judged utterly and severely. Unfortunately, compromised Lot had not learnt the lesson of HOLDING HANDS that the LORD, through His angels, had displayed and modelled before him. The tragic result: “But his wife looked back BEHIND HIM, and she became a pillar of salt” (v.23b). It doesn’t say, “his wife looked back BEHIND HER”! Yes, she did look back, but what made this easy was that Lot allowed her to trail BEHIND HIM, and obviously was not HOLDING HER HAND!

Such a seemingly innocent gesture; such a terribly tragic outcome! Looking back shows herlove for Sodom and regret for its destruction. Lot, not holding her hands and having her stay by his side or in front portrays a dysfunctional relationship. In referring to the end times, Jesus said: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Lk.17:32). As we witness the end of the age, Believers in Christ should avoid having a heart like Lot’s wife that longs for a corrupt and passing world: “Love not the world…” (1 Jh.2:15-17). Also, we must learn to HOLD HANDS and leave no one behind!

In 35 years of marriage, I’ve learnt to constantly HOLD HANDS with my wife, and to give way for her to walk in front. This is more than mere courtesy or an urbane cultural habit. It’s borne out of revelation of the Mysteries of Hands in Marriage, and indeed, in Life and Destiny!