To chapter 13 of Genesis we go to see the two men, Abram and Lot who settled around Bethel and the land could not sustain them, and their herdsman began to quarrel between them. So Abram asked Lot to choose which way he wanted to go. He saw the fertile valley of the Jordan and they separated. Abram went to Canaan, while Lot settled as far as Sodom. So we have the answer to our question, but much more unfolds as we know.

Genesis 13:12-13 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.

Abram's love of Lot is shown in chapter 14 where he rescues Lot from capture with all his belongings as well as in chapter 18 where the Lord tells Abram of His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of there grave sin. Abraham asks if he can find 50 righteous if the Lord would spare the city, then 45, then 40 and finally down to 10, and the Lord says He would not destroy it on account of 10 righteous. This may seem bold of Abraham, but remember, he is called a friend of God.

James 2:21-24 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "and Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called a friend of God.

In Genesis chapter 19 we find Lot greeting newcomers at the gate of Sodom. Two angels-or messengers of God come and Lot recognizes them as only mere men and as his nature is, invites them into his home and prepares a feast for them. In verse 4 we find the men of Sodom surrounding the house and wanting have relations with them. Lot, rather than have the hospitality of these guests taken, even offers his virgin daughters to them. The wicked men recognize Lot as an alien to Sodom and as their judge, for indeed, Lot probably tried to get them to turn from their evil ways. They then try to break down the door to get in. Then the angels intercede by striking the oppressors with blindness who soon wearied themselves trying to find the door.

In verse 12 the angels ask Lot who else he may have in the city to save. The son-in-laws thought Lot was jesting when he told them the city would soon be destroyed, and do not leave. Even Lot hesitated when morning dawned and it was time to flee, so much so that he, his wife, and his 2 daughters had to literally be taken by the hands and removed from the city.

Genesis 19:16-17 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city. And it came about when they had brought them outside, that one said, "escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, lest you be swept away."

The message of the angels was simple enough, escape for your life and don't look back, and yet Lot's wife who probably was a life long resident of the area, could not go without one glance back at her past life. It may have been out of curiosity, or it may have been out of a heartsick loss of a life she loved within Sodom. No doubt their were people in the city she loved, good people in so many ways, that loved their own, and yet loved not God. But whatever her reason, she did look back, and in breaking the Lord's command, was turned into a pillar of salt!

Genesis 19:26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back; and she became a pillar of salt.

So, Let us heed the message of God, recognize the sinful ways of man and not only put them aside, but also to never look back!

Thank you for taking of your time to test your knowledge of God's word.

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