Lot’s wife is a Bible character that became popular after the wrath of God that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible. Though she is not a major Bible character, the story of her life teaches many lessons that are still relevant today.
This article therefore tries to expose you to the Bible story of Lot’s wife and why she became a pillar of salt, as recorded in the Bible.
Who is Lot’s Wife?
As mentioned earlier, Lot’s wife is not a major character in the Bible. As such, she appeared a few times in the scripture; first in Genesis and later in Luke. She was the wife of Lot, Abraham’s cousin. She was also an inhabitant of Sodom, where she had a number of possessions and was associated with their norms and practices.
Originally, Lot and his wife were not from Sodom. They had fled Egypt alongside Abraham in obedience to God’s command. After a long journey towards the south, Abraham and his men realized that the land was not suitable for their livestock and vegetation.
So Lot pitched his tent towards Sodom and Gomorrah while Abraham chose Canaan to avoid rifts among their herdsmen. As we learn further, Sodom was notorious for wicked and immoral acts that angered God greatly.
The Warning and Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Apparently, God was not pleased with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. He was so angry that he planned to destroy them with fire. This informs Abraham to intercede on their behalf, knowing that his nephew, Lot, wife and children were living in the city.
As we learned from the story, Lot also had an encounter with Angels prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, he provided them with lodging and food. They had come in the form of men. Soon after their arrival, the men of Sodom came looking for them to sleep with them (See Genesis 19:5).
Lot, however, delivered his two girls instead and hid the angels from the men of Sodom. The persistence of the men to sleep with angels led to the beginning of their punishment. According to the story, the angels pushed Lot aside and struck the men with blindness.
Still burning with fury, the angels announced the imminent destruction of the city and warned Lot and his kinsmen to flee from the city or else they would perish with the people. “The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”– Genesis 19:13.
The warning continues thus, “flee for your lives! Don’t look back and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”
The Disobedience of Lot’s Wife and the Immediate Consequence
One thing is to be oblivious to an ominous sign and die innocently. Another thing is to have a preknowledge of a tragedy but ignore it. In the case of Lot’s wife, she was informed about the judgement of God that was coming upon Sodom, but she chose to ignore the warning.
Consequently, her disobedience to the warning of the angels led to her tragic end. Recall that the angels had forewarned Lot and his family to flee Sodom and not look back. Yet, his wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Meanwhile, Lot and his two daughters escaped to the mountains.
So, if you ask, why did Lot’s wife become a pillar of salt? It is because of her disobedience to the warning of the angels that she should flee and not look back.
According to Genesis 19:13, the angels told Lot about the imminent destruction that would come upon Sodom due to their sin and wickedness before God. They went on to warn Lot and his household to flee to the mountains and that they should not look back or they would be consumed with the city.
2. What Happened When Lot’s Wife Looked Back?
The immediate consequence that befell Lot’s wife was a capital punishment that resulted in her transformation into a pillar of salt. Her decision to disobey the instructions of the angels led to her untimely death, and her tragic end became a story for everyone to learn from till today.
Conclusion
This post tries to expose you to the story of Lot in the Bible, the disobedience of his wife, the sin of Sodom and the judgement of God upon the Sodomites.
