Um, actually, the story you're referencing has nothing to do with the Ark of the Covenant or looking at God. You're referring to Lot (the brother of Abraham) and his wife being the only people allowed to escape the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They were the only two good people in those cities, and they were allowed to escape, but the only stipulation was, once they left, they couldn't look back. She did, and she became a pillar of salt.