What lessons can we learn from God's use of "rain" as "hail"? The verse: God rains down hail “ ‘I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.’ ” (Ezekiel 38:22) God’s sovereign control over weather • He speaks, and the sky obeys (Job 37:6; Psalm 147:17–18). • Rain, snow, wind, and hail are not random acts of nature; they are instruments in His hand (Psalm 148:8). • Because He rules the climate, He can transform a life-giving sprinkle into a destructive storm whenever His purpose calls for it. Hail as an instrument of judgment • Scripture records literal hailstorms that executed divine justice—on Egypt (Exodus 9:23–26), on the Amorites (Joshua 10:11), and in the future on the armies of Gog (Ezekiel 38:22). • The severity signals the seriousness of sin; nothing is too formidable for God’s corrective reach. • Each historic hail judgment came exactly as foretold, underscoring the absolute reliability of prophecy. Protection and deliverance for God’s people • During the Egyptian plague, hail devastated the fields of Pharaoh yet spared the land of Goshen where Israel lived (Exodus 9:26). • Joshua’s troops were shielded while hailstones struck their enemies (Joshua 10:11). • God’s people today rest in the same covenant care; His wrath never lands where His grace already stands. Character lessons the storm teaches • Reverence—He alone wields forces we cannot resist. • Repentance—judgment is avoidable when hearts submit (2 Chronicles 7:13–14). • Trust—if He governs hail, He can certainly guide careers, marriages, and daily needs (Matthew 6:30-33). • Hope—future hail in Revelation 16:21 assures final victory over evil; believers are safe in Christ. Living in light of the hailstorms • Cultivate quick obedience; delayed obedience hardens like ice. • Intercede for the lost while mercy still restrains judgment (2 Peter 3:9). • Praise the Lord who melts hail as easily as He hurls it, turning judgment aside when hearts turn to Him. |
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