when i walk through the fire
For the past few months, I’ve been stuck on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I’m sure you’ve heard it. They were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to bow before the king’s idol. And they lived to tell about it.
My favorite part of the story has always been their pre-furnace faith. When told about their punishment, their response was, “The God we serve is able to save us from it… but even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” I’ve always wanted my life to be marked with such deep conviction, with such resolute faith.
In many ways, I’ve been in my own personal fiery furnace for the past year. So lately, as I’ve camped out in this story, I’ve paid more attention than usual to what happened after they made their bold confession of faith.
The Bible tells us that the three Jewish boys were tossed into the furnace firmly tied. But the king saw them walking around the fire unbound and unharmed. I smile every time I see that phrase. Because it seems to me it’s just another way of saying “nothing missing, nothing broken”—God’s promise of wholeness and completion. My heart’s prayer is that I would be seen walking through my personal fire unbound and unharmed.
Even better than them being protected from the flames, is the fact that they weren’t alone. A fourth man was seen walking with them in the midst of the fire. I so want Jesus to be visible in this with me. I don’t want to do it in my own strength. I can’t do it in my own strength. I need Him, and I want it to be so clear, even to others, that He is right here with me. I think the evidence that He is walking me through this, will need to be in my words, actions, and character.
When the Hebrew boys were brought out of the fire, not a hair on their heads was singed. Their clothes weren’t burned. They didn’t even smell like smoke. That gives me chills. And it gives me hope. I’m praying that my heart won’t be blackened by the soot of bitterness, that my soul won’t be darkened by the ash of unforgiveness. I want to come out the other side of this without even the smell of smoke on me.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
-Isaiah 43:2
ow.
wow.
yeah…
hm.
(woman of many words tonight)
For me, in one of the crazy situations I was “burning in”, I was slammed to the ground when a dear friend asked me if I had been praying for and loving the person who had “harmed” me and hurt my sensitive sensitivities. Since that situation – I have often looked back and been easily swayed to be mean (think or dwell) to that person and to hang out in the “poor me” sweet spot. But alas, I need not stay there. I must pray for my enemies as wide or as marginally as the situation seem(s) to be. Yes. I will not burn or smolder any longer. I think being a victim of shame and guilt (for me anyways) is on its way out. Seriously. Why do I stay there? Crap.
@moweezle says:
I absolutely LOVE this story too, and as of late even more. I had always been taught the story about the 3 guys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and that was that. But recently, my eyes were opened to another detail to the story. The 3 guys were Jewish slaves so the king had their names changed. Their ORIGINAL names were: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (and all 3 Jewish names have reference to Yahwey! (YHWH is gracious, who is like YHWH, and YHWY has helped). All their slave names were then referenced to toward their Moon God. Why do we only learn the story with their slave names and not their true names???
What I found interesting is that chapters 1 and 2 in Daniel still refer to them with their Hebrew names….only in chapter 3, the story of the fiery furnace, do they start referring them by their slave names. Crazy! You can try to take God out of a name, but He will put it right back in somehow (this time with a super hot furnace!!!)
I just love how everything is so connected when re really dive in a look deeper at all the meaning…. :)
(sorry for the long comment, but I get excited about little things like this!!) :)
Loved the extras mo! :) Thanks for sharing that!
@gritandglory says:
i’ve always wondered that, too, about their names.
but i had no idea the meanings behind their original hebrew names. powerful stuff right there.
Loved this post! Like Mo, this is one of my MOST FAVORITE bible story…..just SO much in one story! Hugs!
@atangie says:
As I read these words that obviously poured out of your heart I was caught up by the thought of the where the cords were. They were tied at the wrist. How wonderful, beautiful, terrifying and magnificent to consider where you have been branded. Makes me think of something out of Indiana Jones. That truth you have on your skin is burning through the cords that would bind.
You are SO showing Jesus bright and strong through this ordeal. I am so proud of you for it.
fyp.
@gritandglory says:
thank you, friend.
You are SHINING sister! You are. And, He is going to make amazing what satan means for evil and you WILL come out unsinged and wow! what God has in store. Praying!
I heard a speaker address this story. He reminded us that when S, M & A said, “The God we serve is able to save us from it…but even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up,” they DIDN’T KNOW that God was going to save them. Then, when they were thrown into the furnace, their thought was probably, “Oh, we’re toast! I guess that part about ‘even if he doesn’t’ was true.”
S, M & A didn’t know they were making biblical history…they were just being obedient. We don’t always know when we’re making history as saints of the faith. Only time will tell.
@gritandglory says:
amen.
I LOVE THIS!
brought me chills and tears to my eyes this morning :-)
than you soooo much for sharing
I can’t help but hear Rack Shack and Benny when I read this lol. I love you Alece
@gritandglory says:
i was waiting for that!
Powerful post, Alece. Powerful.
interesting … just camped out on this story over the past couple weeks myself. One of my favorites, and you happened to pick my fave verse out of the bunch. Thanks.
@ventigrace says:
This fire friend… will only serve to refine you… it won’t leave you stinking of smoke. It won’t leave your eyes burning and closed. It will leave you dancing with Him, heart a-blazed…
I’m proud of your posture in the furnace.
@gritandglory says:
mmmm… thank you, kitty.
Alece, when I look into the furnace of your life, I see Jesus walking with you. I also take great comfort from the fact that the guards who threw our three heroes in the furnace were consumed by the fire and can only hope the same for you. Ok, yes, Jesus still is working with me on the whole forgiveness thing, too! :-) Love you!
@gritandglory says:
out loud laughing over here.
love you!
@cassgirl says:
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
-Isaiah 43:2
I love this verse. It’s so powerful and healing and so HOPEful.
Your personal refinement is already showing.
I haven’t stop touching my toes in the surf for you. KNOW that.
Love ya girl!
@mallyflip says:
That is such an amazing story. That they are able to come out of the furnace NOT smelling like smoke. I get off of working for 4 hours at Starbucks and I smell so strongly of coffee.
I think that I might need to camp out in this story.
You never cease to amaze me with your post of the day.
@gritandglory says:
your last sentence totally made my day. thank you.
@mallyflip says:
You are so very welcome! I am glad that the Lord uses us to bless each other!
I’ve always loved that Isaiah passage.
thank you for putting it into such beautiful perspective.
love you.
@danielleH says:
He is seen with you, friend.
Have you heard Oral Roberts sermon “The Fourth Man”?!
@gritandglory says:
nope!
@traceepersiko says:
You got mad furnace skillz friend. I think the thing about life is that you will always have flames., you will always have the choice believing the one to burn in you. You have done nothing but stand firm in your furnace, friend. i so respect and admire your integrity and character as you believe in the the fourth standing with you.
@gritandglory says:
respect and admire? woah. thank you, sweet friend.
this is one of my favorite passages of scripture and it’s one of my favorite lessons to teach the kids in children’s church! how cool to tell a room of 6-9 year-olds that the 3 young men did not even smell of smoke!! i love the looks on their faces when they grasp it. :)! priceless.
Love this. Love you more each time I read more….God is there….You won’t be smelly.
@gritandglory says:
you made me smile so big. thank you, jen!
Oh how I love this portion of Scripture. When you realize that the furnace was so hot the men who put the 3 in there were killed instantly… I feel terrible for those men because they had no idea what they were choosing but to start with that heat and to see the beauty and glory that is God through all of it… Amazing. Stunning. And I’m with you – I want to have their faith. To know that no matter how bad things get, how hot the fire, even if God chooses not to save me from it I will not doubt that God is who God says He is. How I love to read your posts. Such incredible insight and you write it so succinctly. I never leave here without thinking and learning. Whatever you personal fire has been, you are being refined more and more every day, you sparkle and shine even if you don’t think you do. I thought your heart beautiful before your tough year began, it has been shimmering brilliantly ever since. No smoke, no soot, no charred embers on you – beautiful glory. God’s glory. You eminate it.
@gritandglory says:
your comment was such an encouragement to me. thank you. truly.
Reading this makes me think through something I wrote regarding a difficult time in my life – my dad having cancer. How I threw out there on the table my feelings – open and raw. Basically I said God, I don’t get it. I don’t understand. I can’t take anymore of this right now! I don’t think my heart has the capacity for it. I don’t think my body has the capacity for it. I don’t know if I have the internal strength for it. And yet even as those words come out of my mouth I know you are here. I know you will comfort me. I know you will work through this with me like you have done in the past – carrying me when needed. In this moment I accept that you are God and I am not. I don’t have to have an answer to why; I just need to know that you are here. You are here with me. Amen.
@gritandglory says:
mmmmm….
amen.
@chrystieecole says:
I read another blog on the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego many months ago. The author of that blog pointed out the phrase, “but even if…”. That has been stuck with me ever since. “Our God will rescue us, but even if he doesn’t…God will help me find work, but even if He doesn’t…God will help me have a child, but even if He doesn’t…” I love that they were certain of God’s faithfulness and that He would save them, but that even if He didn’t they would not bow down to any other god. I see this story as a great example of not placing our knowledge of God’s faithfulness in our present circumstances, but instead in His character. I love, love, love this story!!!
@gritandglory says:
there is such weight in that phrase—”but even if He doesn’t.”
i SO want that kind of faith.
@chrystieecole says:
So do I!!!!!!!
244 posts in my Reader, but I stopped by to read this one.
I love the details that you’ve pulled out in this – the cords being gone … not even the smell of fire … wow. What a thing for God to say. The cords that bound you going into the fire, are exactly what the fire is intended to consume. Not you; the cords. In the fire, these men were freed. And on the other side of the fire … no hint that they had even been near a flame. It’s like … some things we walk through are SO horrendous (or even potentially horrendous) that we think there’s no way that they won’t scar us for life. We’re certain we’ll live with the pain or loss of something for the rest of our lives. But this Scripture is saying … not one scar. Not one pain. Not one little ow-y. Not even a hair singed (which wouldn’t hurt.) Not even the smell of smoke. That’s our God. You’ll still come out whole. Even through the fire.
@gritandglory says:
i hadn’t thought of it in that way… that the only thing that’s burned up is that which binds me. what a powerful truth.
and i have to say how honored i felt that you stopped by to read me, with so much good reading waiting for you. thank you!