Why did Lot's wife look back at Sodom

God has placed various stories of life in ancient times in the Bible for a reason. Here is one of many stories; that are there, because God is using it as a teaching tool for us. Let's examine the story of Lot's wife and see why she looked back to Sodom.

A little history first:

Abram and his nephew Lot left Ur after God told them, Gen. 12:1~4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Abram and Lot parted ways and Lot moved on to Sodom, Gen. 13: 1~13. Note Gen. 13:13; "But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD."

Gen. 18: 20~33 we see that Abraham intercedes for the righteous in Sodom.
Gen. 18:23~24 And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? "Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?
Gen. 18:33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Abraham started out interceding for 50 and went down to 10. Abraham did not consider there could be less than 10 righteous persons in the city, he did not think it necessary to urge his supplication further; he therefore left off his requests, and the Lord departed from him.

Genesis 19 Destruction of Sodom
Lot, the nephew of Abraham lived in Sodom with his wife and daughters. Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom, when two angels came, and Lot invited them to stay with his family. The mob wanted the two men (angels) but Lot tells the mob outside his house in Sodom that he has “two daughters who have not known a man” Gen. 19:8.

The angels warned Lot that God would destroy these cities for its wickedness and that he and his family had to escape. These angels had the commission to take care of Lot and his family; and even the Divine justice of God would not be accomplished till this righteous man and his family had escaped from this place. Gen. 19:22 "Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

This answers the question in Gen. 18:25. "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

The two angels warned Lot to leave the city because it was going to be destroyed. The text says: Gen. 19: 14~15 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city."
NOTE: Either Lot had more than two daughters (which the text allows), or Lot’s two virgin daughters were betrothed to men who were called Lot’s sons-in-law before the marriage was consummated.

God’s protection:
The ruin of Sodom was suspended till he was secure. God, bound by His own righteousness and honor, would not bring judgment on Sodom until the righteous people were delivered. What care God does take of His people.

As they fled, the angels warned them, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away” Gen. 19:17.

More examples of God’s protection:

1/ Lord brought flood after evil was so bad – He protected Noah & family
2/ Lord protected Rahab when Jericho fell
3/ Rev. 7:2,3 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."

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How is this relevant to us today?

Lot's entire family was double-minded for the angels had to practically drag them out of the cities.
In the same way, we have difficulty leaving and severing ties with the past. We find all kinds of excuses like Felix (Acts 24:22~25) (25) Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."; to prevent from us from following Jesus Christ and making a break with the past.
Lot and his daughters ran, but his wife lagged behind, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Gen. 19:26). She watched the sulfur fall from the sky, consuming everything she valued, and then it consumed her. The Scriptures don’t say the reason for her death but we can surmise it was a punishment for the value and reluctance to leave her old life.

Lot's wife was taken almost by force out of Sodom. It was not just that Lot’s wife looked back; but in her heart she wanted to go back. She was barely past the city limits and already missing what Sodom and Gomorrah had offered her. Lot’s wife could not tear herself away from the world. When the time came for decision, she betrayed her true character.

We are to hold the world with a loose hand and always be ready to leave it all. The world will be taken by surprise with the sudden judgment of God, and therefore the faithful ought to continually watch.

Consider Christ’s exhortation! “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:26~36
Luke 17:26, 27 The Lord taught that the days immediately preceding that glorious event would be like the days of Noah. People ate, they drank, they married, and were given in marriage. These things are not wrong; they are normal, legitimate human activities. The evil was that men lived for these things and had no thought or time for God.

17:28-30 Again, the Lord said that the days would be similar to those of Lot. Civilization was more advanced; men not only ate and drank, but they bought, sold, planted and built. It was man's effort to bring in an era of peace and prosperity without God. Those who concentrate on pleasure, self-gratification, and commerce will be destroyed.

17:31,32 God destroyed Lot's wife because her heart remained in the city; though she was out of Sodom, Sodom was not out of her.

17:33 Those caring only for their physical safety, but not caring for his soul, will lose it. On the other hand anyone who loses his life because of faithfulness to the Lord will actually preserve it for all eternity.