The Pillar of Salt (in Zoar) said to be Lot's wife

Had a fantastic class with the pre-teens. Wrote the word "Abraham" on the board and asked the kids to write their thoughts around the word and here were two of the best lines:

• "Abraham had a son named Issac. He was going to burn his son, but he burned sheep"
• "Abraham's wife was called Sarah, but he did an affair with his maid, who gave birth to Ishmel"

Apart from talking about minor corrections (smile), we talked about how 'bargaining' with God is a relational premium, especially if one is doing so for the sake of others.

God loves it when we put our reputations on the line and risk embarassment in order to show more compassion, more mercy than the norm. It all starts with trust, with the kind of faith which God can credit as righteousness. When we have that, we unleash all the intercessory power God has given us.

I even told the story of how I believe my intercessions with God helped spare my grandmother's life for a few more years. I am sure God knew I had to spend more time with her during her last months with us. I know I can't "prove" all this but heck proof is overrated in my book.

And then there was Sodom & Gomorrah. Most of the kid were 'homophobic' in some sense (how many pre-teens aren't?) but I think they understood that the sin of S&G was more than a sexual preference for someone of the same sex. It was about rape and violence and it was widespread throughout the community (Gen 19:4-ish).

Somebody asked why Lot's wife had to turn into salt, and not some other commodity. I think it's got something to do with ensuring the pillar will stand fo centuries, though what theological meaning it connotes escapes me. What do you think?

I also hope they understood that whenever God's wrath hits real bad, God has a tendency to 'extract' the innocent and good individuals (in this case, it was Lot but we also see this in the case of Noah and the flood).

Perhaps this is one reason why God is refraining from 'taking out' whole nations: We're in them.