The fifth plague was an epidemic that struck the Egyptians’ livestock. The sixth plague was a skin inflammation that erupted into blisters on the skin of the Egyptians and their cattle. The seventh plague was a rain of hail formed miraculously of ice together with fire. Combining Mercy and Severity.
The hail was very heavy, with flashing lightning in the midst of the hail.
Exodus 9:24
Water and fire derive from and express the Divine attributes of mercy and severity, respectively. Thus, the uniqueness of the plague of hail was its blend of ice and fire, Divine mercy and severity. Similarly, although this was a particularly severe plague, as indicated by the harsh warning preceding it, this very warning included merciful instructions how to avert it.
Only G‑d can override nature and combine fire and ice. In the same way, it is only by rising above our natural limitations and connecting ourselves to G‑d that we can be both strict and merciful at the same time – both for our own benefit and for the benefit of others.1
Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear
Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear is a video game and the sequel to Heavy Fire: Afghanistan, in which soldiers are sent after a captured spy who holds the plans to a secret Iranian nuclear weapons facility. Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear is a military on-rails shooter made by Teyon in 2011 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Teyon is mainly known from their game, Rambo: The Video Game.
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וַיְהִי בָרָד וְאֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּרָד כָּבֵד מְאֹד וגו': (שמות ט:כד)
The Official Xbox Magazine gave the game a 25/100 saying,
"It's as maddening and absurdly designed as it sounds, and even the simple local co-op play — which allows four reticles onscreen at once — isn't enough to make Heavy Fire appealing."
The Official Xbox Magazine UK gave the Xbox 360 version of the game a 20/100 saying,
"A masterclass in bad design. [Apr 2013, p.85]"
