WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18
Daniel 3:19-23
2 Corinthians 1:9-10

“… we should not trust in
ourselves, but in God …”

IN THE MIDST OF THE FURNACE

In ancient civilizations there were men who were very skilled at regulating the temperatures of blast furnaces for smelting various metals. Thus, for Nebuchadnezzar to command that the great furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual was not an impossible command to obey.

Nevertheless, it was a very foolish command. Because of the excessive heat, he not only lost some of his best soldiers, but also guaranteed that the three friends of Daniel would suffer less than they would have in a slow fire!

This vividly illustrates the utter inability of man to injure others beyond the limits which God has set. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28).

Also, we must not overlook the superb sense of drama depicted here. Not only did the three friends fall, but it was into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire! The utter helplessness of these men could hardly have been pictured more vividly. And the power of God to deliver His people from apparently hopeless situations is thereby magnified. In fact, He specializes in such situations in order that “… we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead … he will yet deliver us” (2 Cor 1:9-10). It is only when we find ourselves to be helpless that we truly understand our Lord’s reminder: “… for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

THOUGHT: “You do not test the resources of God until you try the impossible.” (F.B. Meyer)
PRAYER: Lord, help me to realize that in the daily furnace of testing and affliction, all things are possible with Thee!