Hailstones from God

© 2016 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

In the past, God used hailstones to protect His people and destroy His enemies.  One such occasion occurred almost 3500 years ago.  Joshua, under God’s direction, was leading the Israelites into Canaan.  The kings of the Amorites had begun to wage war against the Gibeonites who had come under the protection of Israel’s God.  As Joshua led the army of Israel against the Amorites to defend Gibeon, God assured Him of victory.  God provided this victory by hurling down great hailstones from heaven upon the Amorites as described in the following account.

“And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.  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 10:10-11).

Many of us have heard of the great destructiveness of golf-ball sized hailstones.  Softball sized hailstones can demolish buildings.

As a hailstone’s diameter increases, its weight increases faster than its surface area.  This increases the speed at which it falls through the air.  If a hailstone’s diameter and speed both only double, its destructive energy will be multiplied by a factor of 32!

Scripture says there’s a time yet coming when God will, again, judge His enemies with huge hailstones. 

“And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great” (Revelation 16:21).

How big is a one talent hailstone?  They will weigh about 75 pounds each, and be over 16 inches in diameter.  They will be incredibly destructive!

Jesus Christ, the resurrected Savior, died to save His people from their sins.  He said:

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

But this same loving Savior is the same one that wields huge hailstones.

Will He be your Savior or your judge?

 

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