# 198 Testing In the Fire

The Book of Genesis

Day 198

Ge 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

Finally, in this matter of testing, let us speak of the testing by fire. This type of SEVERE testing is usually brought about by obedience to God in the face of intense opposition. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are classic examples of trial by literal fire as they are ordered into the fiery furnace because they refused to bow their knees to Nebuchadnezzar’s god.

You know the story, as the king looks on, he sees a fourth person in the midst of the fire, and that fourth person was “like the Son of God!” …..Jesus!

When Stephen was stoned after his great Holy Spirit inspired sermon, he “gazed into heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God!” This was Stephen’s “fiery furnace, ” and there was Jesus standing with him.

Peter speaks of trial by fire for believers who are faced with many testings. His prayer was “that  the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (1 Pet 1:7)

Did you catch that? Your genuine faith is more precious than gold. As long lasting and precious that gold is, it too will perish, but tried and tested faith  will never perish. 

Think of the boys in the fiery furnace. Think of Stephen, what was it that allowed them to sustain  their faith during their hour of trial? It was the very presence of Jesus standing with them! Jesus with you  and I!  Immanuel! God with us! Faith doesn’t get much purer than that! 

You may not get a visual of Jesus in the midst of your trial, but  as you recall these incidents with  Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Stephen, you can be sure He is standing with you! In this world you will have tribulation but take heart, when the heat is turned on and it seems unbearable, look for Jesus, He will be there.  He ever lives to intercede on your behalf. Look! He is standing with you and He has overcome the world!