It’s just an expression, but a memorable one.

A testimony of God’s Power to deliver!

Maybe I should say “God’s Power to rescue!”

Deuteronomy 4:20 is the Text for today. “But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of THE IRON FURNACE, even out of Egypt, to be unto Him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.”

I’m interested in God’s analogy here of Egypt.

He called that place “the iron furnace!”

An uncomfortable situation, no doubt!

In fact, the Jews were slaves there!

Forced labor!

For, in round figures, “four hundred years!”

An “iron furnace” indeed.

The intense “heat” may be a reference to the making of bricks for Pharaoh’s many building projects, too. Here’s a direct quote from Exodus 5:16, surely such brick had to be “baked.” The Egyptian “taskmasters” to the Jews: “Make brick.” Then we are told: “Behold, thy servants are beaten,” when not enough “straw” was found to complete their projects!

Wow!

And God knew what the Israelites were suffering!

Remember Isaiah 63:9. When God’s people hurt … God hurts! “In all their (the Jews) affliction,  He (the Lord) was afflicted.”

Generations, in an “iron furnace!”

Readers here this Saturday morning, GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE ENDURING AS WELL!

Hallelujah!

But, as comforting as that though can be … there’s more.

An iron furnace, stringent as it is, can also have benefits!

Like purifying certain metals.

And solidifying certain types of clay.

In other words, making things more useful!

More, using Paul’s words from 2nd Timothy 2:21, “meet for the master’s use!”

Iron furnaces … horrible?

Yes, in many ways.

But … profitable?

Yes, in many (more important) ways.

Remember, the three Hebrew children of Daniel chapter three were NOT in that (iron) furnace alone! “Lo, I see FOUR MEN loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like THE SON OF GOD.” Daniel 3:25

Wow!

God … and “iron furnaces!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell