Lighting as a Weapon

Lighting is caused when two electrically charged regions temporarily neutralize themselves and cause an instantaneous release of energy ("Lightning Basics", n.d.). This work produces electromagnetic radiation.

Lighting generally occurs in three ways: inside a single thundercloud, between two different clouds, or between a cloud and the ground (also called heat lighting, summer lightning, or dry lightning).  

Lightning is described in the Bible as fire from heaven. Lightings (lightning bolts) are God’s arrows (Ps. 18:14, 77:17, 144:6; Job 36:32; Hab. 3:11).  

There are times when God uses lighting in judgment. One instance happened with Sodom and Gomorrah, which God destroyed by raining down fire (lightning) and burning sulfur from the sky (Gen. 19:24). Another instance is when the Israelites complained in the wilderness. God sent a fire to rage against them and some were killed (Num. 11:1-3). The 250 men who participated in Korah’s rebellion were also killed by the Lord’s fire, which was likely lightning (Num. 16:35). 

A most spectacular display of lightning, however, was with Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. To prove God was real and Baal false, the prophet conducted a contest during which He asked the Lord to prove Himself to the false prophets by sending fire to consume the drenched wood of his sacrifice. God answered, and the fire (lightning) consumed the bull, wood, stones of the altar, dust, and all the water of the trench that had been dug around it (1 Kings 18:38). 

This was not the only instance of lightning with Elijah. God proved Himself once again through the prophet by sending lighting to kill 100 soldiers who were trying to arrest him (2 Kings 1:1-18). 

In conclusion, lightning is a natural phenomenon that is controlled by God. He uses it as He wishes, as all of the universe is at His command.

REFERENCES 

Lightning Basics. NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 15 February 2022, from https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightning/.