Whew! Sometimes, Father, it seems I’m “in the fire.” Things are hectic, I’m bombarded with trials and temptations, and it is not easy. Please help me through the fiery times. I pray that I will emerge a better person, a more faithful Christian, and a living testimony to Your grace. I need Your strength, because I cannot do it alone. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name I come to You, amen.
The Test of Fire
Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean… (Num. 31:22 NIV).
Go Deeper: Numbers 29:12-31:24; Luke 8:19-39; Psalm 39
I was raised in Alaska; we had no gold, but I still learned a lot about that precious mineral that has driven man to the ends of the globe with a lustful fervor. Gold is difficult to mine, and once mined, it must be refined and purified. As I grew, I learned that all ores are similar to gold in their need for refinement. Digging a precious ore from the earth is only the beginning of the process of refinement.
The Old Testament is brimming with lengthy explanations of wars, ceremonial cleansing, and religious observances which seem inapplicable to our everyday lives. Yet, there are certain moments where we can gain some wisdom. Moses avenged the Midianites, killing every man, but the people brought back spoils and plunder, including women and children. Moses was angry. The Midianite women were the problem; they had followed Balaam’s advice, turning them against Israel in the first place.
Many times we don’t finish a battle, short-circuiting victory. God was clear: This battle would be finished only when all the Midianite boys and women were killed. With the aid of Eleazar, the priest, Moses detailed the purification process. The Israelites’ spoils and plunder were hammered from precious minerals, but the shapes tooled by the Midianites were evil. They must be purified: Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean (Num. 31:22 NIV).
Once our battles are won, we must submit to a spiritual purification and cleansing by fire. Purification isn’t easy and it hurts. Yet, from the fires of our own private battles we can emerge a newly fashioned image of God—made from the same stuff—but retooled through fire into His likeness and suited for His purposes.
God wants to purify and reshape us all.
The Word in Real Time © copyright Kathy Slamp, Vessel Press/Vessel Ministries.
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