Surely, this is the shortest biography ever written. Twelve words tell the story of a woman who remains nameless and yet has been placed among the most well-known women of the world. She is mentioned again in the New Testament in Luke 17:32 by Jesus. It is the second shortest verse in the Bible, Remember Lot's wife!
Lot and his family lived in Sodom. God promised to spare Sodom if ten righteous people could be found. Obviously this was not possible because the angels arrived to destroy the city. Lot did not want to leave. He and his family had enjoyed wealth, position and comfort while living in Sodom. The angels had to grasp his hand and remove him from the dangerous destruction.
As they were leaving, Lot's wife turned back to see the smoldering ruins of Sodom. She was clinging to the past and unwilling to turn completely away from her old life.
In All of the Women of the Bible by Edith Dean, the author suggests a possible explanation would be that flaming sulphur fell upon her and encrusted her with its salty substance. Geologists explain that at the end of the Dead Sea is a burned-out region of oil and asphalt. Salt clefts, often 600 feet high are found for many miles southwest of the Dead Sea, near where is suggested that Sodom once stood.
Her disobedience resulted in her destruction. Lot lost his wealth, his witness and his wife.
Do you choose to hang onto possessions, sin or guilt? Have you ignored God's warning to not look back?
It takes faith to step forward, one step at a time, obediently.