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Viewpoint from Rev Roger Key 26/07/2019
 Rev Roger Key
Minister, St Margaret’s Church, Hopton
as published in the Great Yarmouth Mercury
As my formal ministry ends, my mind is drawn to the fate of Ado (Edith), the wife of Lot, who, disobeying God’s warning, looked back while fleeing from His destruction of the evil city of Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. Her story appears in both Jewish and Islamic traditions and I share some of the Wikipedia entry with you
In the Jewish exegesis of Genesis 19:26 one view of Lot's wife turning to salt was as punishment for disobeying the angels' warning. Her looking back betrayed her secret longing for that way of life and she was thus unworthy to be saved
 Another view is that when she looked back, she turned to a pillar of salt upon the "sight of God", who was raining destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Another reason is that she turned back to see if her daughters, who were married to men of Sodom, were coming or not
And yet another says that, because she sinned with salt, she was punished with salt
When the two angels visited Lot, he requested that his wife prepare a feast for them. Not having any salt, she asked her neighbours for some, which alerted them to the presence of their guests, resulting in the mob action that endangered Lot's family
In Islamic tradition, Lot (Lut, Arabic: ???) lived in Ur and was a nephew of Ibrahim (Abraham) and migrated with him to Canaan and was commissioned as a prophet to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Commanded by Allah to go there to preach monotheism and to stop them from their lustful and violent acts, his messages were ignored, prompting their destruction. Though Lot left the city, his wife looked behind and was destroyed
 In the Quran, surah (chapter) 26 Ash-Shu`ara' (The Poets) –
“So, we saved him and his family, all. Except an old woman among those who remained behind
Nothing is to be gained by being shackled to the past
Deeply grateful for the past years and sad to leave, I must now step forward in trust
And if my path through valleys dark should lead me,
I will not fear; His staff brings comfort true.
My cup runs over; He with blessing fills me.
He gives new strength; His mercy’s ever new
“Tot siens, geliefdes!”
Until we see each other again, beloved!
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