There are many encouraging accounts in the Bible, some of which cause us to wonder about details not given. When Lot and his family were ushered out of Sodom just prior to it's destruction, they were instructed not to look back. (Genesis 18:20-19:26) Lot's wife failed to comply with God's order and was destroyed [turned into a pillar of salt]. Some have wondered if the cause for her destruction was let in through her eyes in some way. That idea is given only in example and seems silly to most. For those who have been led to believe it is true, however, it can be serious. That thinking might be responsible for the old worldly saying about the eyes being the window to the soul. The simple knowledge we can actually gain from this Bible example is this, Lot's wife disobeyed a direct command from God and was destroyed. The details of her death seem moot. As a couple of other examples: When God caused a shadow cast by the sun to go back up a set of steps it had just come down, some will want to debate how that was done. (2 Kings 20:8-11) Was it something God caused all the people to see in some sort of mass vision, or did he back up the spin of the earth? What were the mechanics involved in causing the Red Sea to split apart and stand up in a wall on either side? (Exodus 14:21-22) יהוה does not always explain how, or even why, he did something. Do you really think he needs to?
As to how He accomplished things we can't examine or repeat, the simple fact of answer is: If the Bible doesn't say, we don't know. We are talking about the true God who created all things, including the physical laws that govern his creation. Obviously, he can do with his creation as he sees fit. (Rom 9:20-21) Always remember when considering the Bible, it is the principles being illustrated we want to learn. We want to know and understand what God loves and why! Avoid being deceived to wonder and worry about details not given in the Bible. If those details were important for you to know, God would have included them. Please do understand: That is not to suggest you should believe blindly. The Bible's revelation [through Christ] of the sacred secret (Romans 16:25) of God's plan to undo the works of the devil (1 John 3:8b) is so wonderful; when you grasp the beauty and perfection of his arrangement, you will not imagine it came from the mind of men. (2 Tim 3:16-17) God often explains such intimate details as what people were thinking when they took some action. (Luke 10:29) It is for him to decide, of course, what we need to know. Since He so wondrously created us, and sent his son to make provision for our salvation, (John 3:16-21) we can surely believe He recorded in the Bible all the detail we need. Now that even puny and imperfect humans have learned to manipulate the atom either to destroy entire nations or to power them; and have developed technology to look right inside the human body, it makes even more plausible our realization that God can use his creation as he sees fit. He created all we see and know. Is anything too wonderful for him? If God has limits, we should realize it is only the ones he has chosen to place upon himself. (Titus 1:2)
Meditating on the example of Sodom and the wife of lot; God told Lot and his family he was destroying the city for it's wickedness. They were instructed not to look back. Even after being helped from the city, Lot's wife disobeyed God and was killed. It's no more complicated than that.
Some principles we can learn from Sodom and the wife of Lot are first, that God cares for us all. We can also learn, of course, He will not tolerate wickedness forever. We learn He extends every kindness possible, (Gen 19:12-14) and that He will help each individual who is seeking him; while He knows how to deal with wicked persons who are determined to abuse others. Lot's wife was not ignorant. She should have known יהוה through Abraham and certainly through her husband Lot. Additionally, she had been eye witness to the miracles transpiring around her that night in Sodom. The instructions given them by the angels, who dragged them out of the city, were simple: Don't look back! Lot's wife was divinely and miraculously given the extraordinary chance for life, by being protected from the destruction falling on the wicked people of Sodom. By her disobedience to the simple instructions given her [personally from God], Lot's wife rejected the gift of life. One principle we learn from this account is that obedience to God brings life, and disobedience brings death. (Deu 30:15-20) By her act of looking back, Lot's wife evidently demonstrated her support for the wicked people being destroyed. Worrying about the mechanics of how she was killed, and missing the principles being taught, would be a terrible mistake.
Our world system is collapsing just as Jesus promised it would. (Luke 21:28) It seems to be failing in almost every way possible. Jesus gave foreknowledge that would happen, and he gave his followers instruction about surviving the impending destruction. (Acts 2:21) The question for all of us is this: Did we get the point of the wife of Lot, and what her disobedience cost her? Or, did we get sidetracked to worrying about details that, even if we knew them, wouldn't strengthen our faith? (2 Peter 2:5-10; Heb 10:39) Do we understand how God extended every opportunity to all the righteous persons in Sodom? When he said he had come down to get to know if their badness was as terrible as he had heard, did he imply he didn't know what they were doing? (Matthew 10:29-30) Of course not! יהוה was giving the individual residents of the city the chance to avoid destruction, by repenting for their badness as they perceived what was about to happen to them. They showed no remorse, but went on seeking badness even after being struck blind. Bible knowledge is what can set you free of slavery to [through fear of] wicked and ignorant persons. (Hebrews 2:15 ; Galatians 3:29) When people want you to focus on particular words or phrases or terms, especially ones which are not even found in the Bible, they are likely trying to mislead you from the simple and beautiful truth of the Bible. Remember the wife of Lot: She was disobedient to the words of God. While she had the angels to tell her what to do; we today have the completed Bible; we have the teachings of God's son. Learn what your Bible teaches! Do not be turned aside to the dreams and doctrines of men, or be worried about what the Bible does not say. Learn what your Bible teaches!
As you look to the Bible, pay special attention to the words of Christ (Gal 3:23-25) as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. God has given only one command since Jesus started preaching. (Mat 17:5) Lot's wife needed to listen to the angels God sent to her. You need to listen to the son God sent to you. (Mark 9:7) Take in the spirit God is pouring out (Acts 2:17) by reading the words of Christ. (John 6:63; John 3:31-36)
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