43:1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior...
Isaiah was called by God to speak
to Judah on His behalf. The message was rather simple. "Things can't
continue as they are and if you insist on your increasingly evil ways other
nations will begin to have their way with you. Ultimately Babylon will come and
destroy Jerusalem, setting it on fire. The treasures that Hezekiah showed off
to the king of Babylon and his entourage will be carried away along with your
royal descendants and they will be made eunuchs in his kingdom."
Those prophecies were yet future.
Isaiah himself wouldn't live to see them happen but his words and warnings and
the promises attached to them lived on. Faithful parents taught them to their
children. Among some of those children who heard these warnings and learned
these promises were Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. They were taught
about the Mighty God of Abraham. The One who opened the sea before Moses. The
One who brought down the walls of Jericho all by Himself while preserving Rahab
the prostitute and any who were with her.
When those boys were chained
together and marched from their homeland, likely leaving their murdered
families behind them, they knew it was foretold. As awful as it was they knew
they were living out the very words of God and attached to those words were
promises. The exile in Babylon would not be forever. Jerusalem would be
restored, and more than all that, God would be with them through this ordeal.
When they arrived in Babylon they
remained faithful to God and He remained faithful to them just as He promised.
When a power hungry and infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to murder
them in a furnace of fire three of those boys (whom we know more as Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego) remained fearless. When they were thrown in for their
loyalty to God not only did the flames not burn them but Jesus stood with them.
In childhood they heard these
promises of water that couldn't drown and fire that wouldn't touch them and now
in Daniel chapter three they are living it. What effect do you think that had?
What lessons can we learn from them?
As I have said many times already
and will continue to say, Jesus never promised a bed of roses. He very
deliberately and honestly told us that in this world, this realm where every
man woman and child is free to behave as well or as evil as they wish, we will
have trouble. Attached to that sober warning are promises. Promises like
"I will never leave you or forsake you" and "I will come again
to get you" and "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom" and "Greater is He that is in you,
than he that is in the world" and "If God be for is who can be
against us?".
Those who choose Him and His
merciful plan of complete restoration are promised that in the end they will
look up and declare "Look this is our God! We have waited for Him and He
will save us."
Today we read a promise that four
little Jewish boys heard from childhood. Shortly after the warning words of
Isaiah became their living reality. What for Hezekiah was a far off prophecy
was for them a very painful and horrific experience. Yet God made promises and
He kept them and they lived those as well.
He has not changed. He will keep
every promise He has ever made. He invites us to experience them but He won't
force us. Love never forces.
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