Hail is a meteorological phenomenon frequently mentioned in the Bible, often as a manifestation of divine judgment or power. In the Scriptures, hailstones are depicted as instruments of God's wrath, used to execute judgment upon the earth and its inhabitants. The most notable instance of hail as a divine tool is found in the account of the plagues of Egypt. In Exodus 9:23-26 , it is recorded: "So Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. The hail fell and continued to fall, and lightning flashed through it. So there was hail and lightning flashing back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field, both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and shattered every tree."

Hail is also mentioned in the context of the conquest of Canaan. In Joshua 10:11 , during the battle at Gibeon, the Lord intervened on behalf of Israel: "As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites."

In the prophetic literature, hail is often associated with the eschatological judgment of God. In Revelation 16:21 , during the pouring out of the seventh bowl of God's wrath, it is written: "And great hailstones, about a hundred pounds each, rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous."

Water

Water is a fundamental element in the Bible, symbolizing life, purification, and divine provision. From the very beginning, water is present in the creation narrative. Genesis 1:2 states, "Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters."

Water is essential for physical life, and its scarcity or abundance is often seen as a sign of God's blessing or judgment. In the wilderness, God provided water for the Israelites, demonstrating His care and provision. In Exodus 17:6 , God instructs Moses, "Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink." This miraculous provision of water from the rock is a testament to God's faithfulness.

Water also holds significant symbolic meaning in the context of spiritual cleansing and renewal. In the New Testament, water baptism is a central rite, symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In John 3:5 , Jesus emphasizes the necessity of spiritual rebirth through water and the Spirit: "Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.'"

Furthermore, water is used metaphorically to describe the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:26 , Paul speaks of Christ sanctifying the church, "to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word." Similarly, in John 7:38-39 , Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as living water: "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this, He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.

Water, in its various forms and uses, is a profound symbol throughout the biblical narrative, representing both God's provision and His purifying work in the lives of His people.