The story of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt (Gen 19:23) represents a tragedy of...well Biblical proportions. It happened as a result of her looking back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah while fleeing the city under the judgement of God. To a tiny degree, it's similar in my own home. When a child is being disciplined, one of the rules is "No Spectators". No little eyes peeking in to see what course of action will be taken against a wrong-doing. As a father, I love my children dearly, and hate any choice or action that can bring them pain later in life. But the process of discipline should never arouse curiosity or stir pity or invite joy. It should be approached soberly and firmly knowing that it will produce wisdom within the heart as it forms thought processes and guides future decision-making.
But there's a fundamental difference in this story in Genesis 19. The destruction of Sodom was not punitive...it was not meant to correct a wrong...it was judgment...pure and simple. There would be no return from this annihilation...no reprieve...only utter devastation. Why? Because God had set His face against the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. He detested what the people of that city did in the course of their daily lives. It was against His glory, and anything against His glory, He hated. Lot's wife who is not even named here or anywhere else in the Bible looked back towards the destruction. It would be presumptuous to say she looked back because she didn't want to leave her life in Sodom. We don't know why she did so. We only know that she was turned into a pillar of salt because she disobeyed God's command not to look back. The point I want us to see today is the incredible love God has for His glory and the infinite hate He has for anything that's opposed to it. Thoughts?