PODCAST
The Furnace Results In Suffering
September 17th, 2014
Proverbs 17:1-20
When I think of furnaces and the Bible, I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three God-fearing Jewish men were captives in Babylon, and they refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s huge golden image. The end result was that they were bound and thrown into a fiery furnace.
Then a miracle occured. In Nebuchadnezzar’s own words: “Look! . . . I see four men loose . . . and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25, NKJV). Jesus came and walked with those young men in the midst of the fire!
We all “go through the fire” from time to time. If we go it alone, we’ll perish, but if we surrender the fire–and the cause of the fire–to God, the Son will show up and walk with us through the flames.
I’m not saying the furnace won’t bring suffering and stress. However, the fourth Man in the fire will make sure the fire doesn’t destroy you. Just as fire refines silver and purifies gold, suffering strengthens and deepens you. Take the hand of the Son of God and keep walking.
Author: James H. Diehl
