Heaven's Hail
Today’s Verse:
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. ~Joshua 10:11
Hail is formed when the coldness of the upper atmosphere transforms rain or water particles into ice. Basically, water is turned into ice, and ice pellets fall upon the earth. We find the first mention of hail when God sent a massive hailstorm as judgment against Egypt resulting in the loss of crops and cattle. We find a future mention of hail that will occur during the Great Tribulation. This will be a hailstorm of epic magnitude with stones weighing 100lbs or more falling upon man, beast, and all living things. This morning, we see hailstones from heaven that God gave to Joshua against the armies of five kings he fought with in the mountains.
We see the God of the hailstones.
“And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died.” Hailstones speak to us of God’s greatness as Creator God. As Creator God, He is the maker of all things. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16). He is the God of the weather, and of the elements. By Him, all things are created that are in Heaven and in Earth. As Creator God, He makes all things wonderful to behold. “Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?” (1 Samuel 6:6). As Creator God, all of heaven and earth are under His command and control. No wonder Isaiah proclaimed, “Behold thy God!”
We see the gift of the hailstones.
“The Lord cast down great stones from heaven.” These hailstones were God’s gift to Joshua in battle. Notice the Bible says they were “great stones from heaven.” “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Consider the gifts from heaven. God sent fire, rain, hail, bread, His Son, His Spirit, His Word, light (to Saul of Tarsus), and a vessel (to Peter) from Heaven. These were timely gifts. These were tremendous gifts. These were testifying gifts. As these hailstones descended upon Joshua’s enemies, he saw the power of God work in an exclusive and extraordinary way. Not one hailstone hit any of Joshua’s men. Not one hailstone missed its intended mark upon the Canaanite armies. These hailstones came down from Heaven when the “normal weather pattern” did not call for cold temperatures. We must remember the gifts from Heaven are favorable, fitting, and Fatherly.
We see the glory from the hailstones.
“They were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.” Joshua had God’s approval to fight with this enemy. God gave Joshua the victory before the battle even started. God was fighting for Joshua. What an amazing wonder that more were slain from the hailstones than those slain by the sword. When it was all over, all the glory went to God. God was the captain of salvation for Joshua and his men. All five kings, their armies, and their cities were defeated and taken. Joshua and the men of Israel could not take credit for any component of the victory. Victory was by the hand of God. All glory to God!
The gifts from Heaven are a blessing and benefit we should not take for granted. Count your blessings this morning; name them one by one.
Have a blessed God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 24-27