✝ Daily Encouragement (1/26/24) "Another In The Fire"

Published: Fri, 01/26/24

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Friday, January 26, 2024

Herr Road farm, Lancaster County, PA (Click to enlarge)

This spacious farm is located on Herr Road near Sight and Sound Theater. With the white structures, snow covered roofs and sun shining on the snow covered ground we needed sunglasses to focus on this extremely bright farm. Note" This photo was not taken today since temps have been rising with a forecast high today of 65 degrees!
(Click on photo to enlarge)

"Another In The Fire"

Message summary: The fourth man in the fire is a reminder of the truth that God is with us always. "For He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5,6).

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"Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?' They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.' He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods'” (Daniel 3:24,25).

This week we have shared a four part series based upon four characteristics demonstrated by Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Our previous messages were "Uncompromising Convictions", "Unwavering Commitment", "Unswerving Courage", and "Unshakable Confidence". The latter three characteristics were specifically in regard to the test that Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) faced in refusing to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's idol.

They passed the test, remaining faithful to God, but were thrown into the fiery furnace. They had confidence God could deliver them, assurance that he would, and overcoming faith that if He didn't they would still be ultimately delivered. They weren't prevented from being thrown into the fiery furnace but were delivered from any harm by the fire's impact.

This understandably surprised the king who "was astonished and rose up in haste" . After all, the fire was so intense that the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire were killed in the process.

"He declared to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?' They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.'"

What the king saw should be so encouraging to us. "He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods'”.

The Septuagint and various Greek OT versions are interesting in that they add the king "heard them singing praises". If this singing in the furnace did in fact transpire, it reminds us of Paul and Silas singing in the midst of the Philippian jail (Acts 16:25). How do you do at singing praises in the midst of a trial?

God's encouragement to Israel through Isaiah and perhaps a promise that the three Hebrew lads were aware of (since Isaiah prophesied from 740-680BC and the events of chapter 3 most likely take place between 605-586BC). "But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you'" (Isaiah 43:1,2).

While not everyone agrees, most conservative commentators interpret the fourth figure in the fire as more than a created angelic messenger, and that this was a Christophany, a visual manifestation of the Creator Himself. Warren Wiersbe takes such a stance writing that, "the fourth person in the furnace was Jesus Christ in one of His preincarnate appearances in the Old Testament."

The fourth man in the fire is a reminder of the truth that God is with us always. "For He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5,6).

A song that expresses this that was sung in our church this last Sunday (link below):

There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I’ve been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, there is great assurance in Christ's promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that you are with us in the fiery trials of life. You work in mysterious and miraculous ways, Your wonders to perform, according to the plans You have for our lives. Help us to remember You are there, You are in control, and nothing will happen to us apart from Your plan for our good and for Your glory. In that truth we can find rest for our souls and faith in Your overall good plan for our lives. Amen.

Yesterday we received an interesting note from a longtime friend after posting a photo of a large Sycamore tree here in Lancaster County. Joe Sherer is currently the pastor of the Willow Street Mennonite church but for many yearshe pastored here in Mount Joy where we met. In fact I spoke at that church over twenty years ago when he was on a Sabbatical.

He wrote, "The sycamore tree pictured today stands on what was my grandparent's farm where my mother grew up. My parents were married beneath this tree in 1948. It was the largest sycamore tree east of the Mississippi River, and people came from other states just to see it. At chest-height it was 27 feet in circumference, and had horizontal branches bigger than any trees around. Later my uncle and aunt owned the farm and I played there as a boy. Jeremiah says the one who trusts in the Lord will be like a tree planted by the water that thrives and grows and never fails to bear fruit."

The photo of Joe with his wife Mary Lou is from last fall when we visited with them after our church service. Joe has also provided some content on the Daily Encouragement site through the years such as Marks Of People With Integrity.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Another in the Fire" Watch on YouTube BrentwoodBenson

"Good Plans" Watch on YouTube Red Rocks Worship

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