“For My name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” – Isaiah 48:9-11
Feeling the Heat
Although the nation of Israel is God’s chosen people, they are not immune from trying times. In today’s text we see God “trying” them in the furnace of affliction. Apparently, the apple of God’s eye was testing His patience. Rather than eliminating them God decides to refine them. However, this is not new. Israel has gone from the “iron furnace” (Deut. 4:20) of Egypt into the furnace of affliction (Babylonian captivity). Looks like the proverbial “Out of the frying pan into the fire.” Feeling the heat? Perhaps you are being tried in the furnace. Israel wasn’t exempt and neither is the Church. Why? Because He loves us and is jealous for His name.
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” – Hebrews 12:5b-6.
Furnace of Affliction
Why the furnace? Why the heat? It purifies. Precious metals mined from the earth are fraught with impurities in their natural state. Extracting the metals from the earth is not enough. The “earth” needs to be extracted from the metals. They need to be purified. To be purified they must be subjected to heat. Hence the furnace. Once heated, the impurities (dross) rise to the top and the refiner scrapes it off. The refiner adjusts the heat and skims the dross until he sees his reflection. The purer the metal, the clearer the reflection. Quite a spiritual picture.
Our Heavenly refiner does the same to us. He separates us from the world and refines us. “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried” (Psalm 66:10).
Removing the world from us is not pleasant, but it is necessary. Like precious metals we need to be proved and improved. By removing our impurities God makes us useful vessels fit for His service. James tells us that the testing of our faith makes us “perfect and complete“. In other words, like Christ. And Christ knew something about the furnace.
“But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” – Daniel 3:25
Are you currently in the furnace? You are not alone. Even in the heat of the furnace we can cling to the promise, “”I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b).
Think you can’t endure the heat? Think again. “No temptation (testing) has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond your ability, but with the temptation (testing) He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Is the suffering worth the price? Absolutely. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
The furnace can be a difficult place to be, but it can also be the place of the sweetest communion with God. The greater the heat, the less we are attached to the world and the keener our spiritual insight. As God is adjusting the heat and skimming off the dross look for His face. That is what He wants to see reflected in you. That is why He refines you.
“Prove me, O lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” – Psalm 26:2