You may have heard this story before but for me, it was worthy of hearing again. It reminds me, in my current journey, how Abba is always at work and never out of control in any situation, in fact, He has allowed our circumstance. But what He allows is allowed for the purpose of bringing glory to Him before His people and before the world. So for that reason, I'm posting it here. It reminds me what He is at work doing in the lives of those He loves...
How I found the Refiner's Story
One day, as I was talking with Abba, the scripture from Ps 139:23-24 was open in my bible
(Psa 139:23-24 Search me, O Ěl, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts;
And see if an idolatrous way is in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.)
and as I read it and I considered it. I was amazed at how great Abba's mercies are toward us. I thought about what the verse was saying...David is asking Abba to search his heart and to know his thoughts, which Abba certainly does know but we also need to know, then David asks Abba to try him. I thought about that a bit. If we consider ourselves to be silver or gold then we know we must be tried or refined in order that all impurities (idolatry, wickedness, anything placed above Abba's truths) are purged from us so that we are pure and come forth pure so that we too, are found in the way of everlasting life.
A time of trial might also be called a time of wilderness wandering because the way we are headed appears uncertain.
The sages refer to the years of the wilderness wanderings as “the iron crucible”, A metaphor of the vessel silversmiths use to refine silver.
crucible defined:
Pot of clay or other refractory material, used from ancient times as a container for melting metals or other materials.
So, I became curious about the aspects of refining and went on a search and I found this story below. It's an awesome picture of how Abba may try us at times but can never leave us during His refining process because His purpose is to purify and set us apart as a new vessel. This is done with care and perfect timing and just the exact amount of heat and care.
THE WORK OF A REFINER; A Story
Malachi 3:3 Elohim will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver and He will purify His people.
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this
statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and
get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch
him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her
interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire
and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to
hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as
to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she
thought again about the verse that says:
“He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in
front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the
silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was
in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it
would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How
do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
He smiled at her and answered,
“Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His
eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
For our Good
When we learn of this process of refining, we can see the meaning behind the metaphor more clearly. Abba holds His people in the hottest part of the fire in order to purify them but in the process He does not leave us or allow us to be destroyed. He allows it for our good so that we may be drawn closer to Him and understand and trust Him in ways we have not known Him. You're trials are always designed to draw you nearer and to test your heart to see if you will follow YHWH or no.
I am amazed that Abba considers my path. He knows the way that I go and He cares to hear me when I call on Him. He brings light to my path.
Who am I that you would consider me...I am yours.
Thank you Abba for the way you have prepared for your people, may you have mercy on us as you try our hearts,
Amein
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