Remember Lot's Wife: What Really Happened to Lot's Wife?

WHEN the two angels came to warn Lot and his family in Genesis 19, the message was urgent and clear:

“Escape for your life! Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away” (Genesis 19:17, ESV).

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was imminent, and there was no time to waste. But as they fled, Lot’s wife “looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).

A Lesson in Moving Forward with God--

At first glance, it may seem like an overly harsh punishment for a mere glance. But a closer look at the original Hebrew word used for “looked back” reveals something deeper. The Hebrew verb nabat does not merely mean to glance or glance behind casually. It conveys a sense of intentional, lingering gaze—even a turning back with desire or longing. In other words, Lot’s wife didn’t just look; she turned her heart back toward Sodom. She longed for what she was leaving behind.

This was no innocent mistake. Lot's wife, who had been warned clearly, deliberately disobeyed God's instruction—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. She clung to a life God had already condemned for destruction.

'Salt and Sulfur': A Natural Consequence?

Deuteronomy 29:23 gives us insight into the aftermath of Sodom and Gomorrah:

“The whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing...”

This description aligns with the geological evidence of the region. Scholars and archaeologists suggest that the area near the Dead Sea—known for its high salt and sulfur content—experienced massive volcanic and seismic activity.

It's very plausible that when Lot’s wife stopped and turned back, she was caught in a literal fallout of ash, sulfur, and salt raining down upon the valley. Her body may have been instantly encased in salt—a natural consequence of hesitating in a place of judgment, rather than a random divine smiting.

So this was not merely an act of supernatural punishment but a serious warning: when God says to flee destruction, we must not hesitate, delay, or look back.

Jesus' Solemn Warning--

Interestingly, Jesus Himself referred to Lot’s wife in Luke 17:32, saying just three powerful words:

“Remember Lot’s wife.”

This was in the context of Jesus describing the days leading up to His return:

“On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away... Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” (Luke 17:31–33)

Jesus’ message is unmistakable: when the time comes to follow God completely, don’t hesitate. Don’t cling to your old life. Don’t look back. Remember Lot’s wife.

What Can We Learn?

Lot’s wife serves as a haunting but powerful reminder: clinging to the past can cost us our future. How many times have we longed for the comforts of our former life when God was clearly calling us out of it? Whether it’s a sinful habit, a toxic relationship, or worldly desires, looking back can keep us from moving forward with God.

Consider the apostle Paul’s example:

“But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13–14, NKJV)

And Jesus taught plainly:

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

Moving Forward with God

God doesn’t just call us out of sin; He calls us into something better—a new life, a new identity, a new destination--a new kingdom!

But that means we must leave the old one behind. Like Lot and his daughters, we must flee without looking back. And when we obey, even if it means leaving everything familiar, God provides safety, direction, and hope.

Lot’s wife is not just a tragic figure—she is a sobering symbol for every believer. Don’t look back. Don’t return to what God is rescuing you from. Trust His leading and keep moving forward.

Let's remember Lot’s wife—as we choose to move on with God. --Rh.