Emmanuel

Well, the holidays are here and the TV tells us that we should feel joyful and festive. The TV doesn't take real life into account, though. I don't feel joyful and festive. I have had long talks with God this week and here is some of what I have learned.




Emmanuel
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
  they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned Psalms 43:1-3




Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego  were in trouble.  They weren't in trouble for doing what was wrong but for doing what was right. King Nebuchadnezzar had built a huge golden statue in the plain near Babylon and commanded that when people heard the music play they were to bow down to the statue. When the music played 3 men did not bow down. Enter the tattletales, who run to the king and inform on the three Israelites. He calls them in to talk to them and tells them that if they bow down, everything will be forgiven but if not he will throw them in a blazing furnace. They bravely tell him that they will not bow to anyone except God. He wants to know how "any god" can deliver them out of the furnace. Their answer is, We believe that our God can deliver us, but even  if he does not we will not bow down. Now only does he throw them in the furnace, but he also has it heated up to seven times the regular temperature. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and thrown in the furnace and the fire was so hot that the men throwing them in were burned up. When the king looked into the furnace he was shocked and amazed. He asked the soldiers, "Didn't we throw 3 men bound into the fire?" When they answered that they had, he said "I see 4 men walking around unbound and the fourth is like a son of the Gods!" When the 3 men were brought out they did not even smell like smoke and their clothes were not singed. King Nebuchadnezzar changed the law he had made. No one was to worship anyone except the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.


Most of you grew up hearing this story, but can you imagine what it was like to witness this sight? God did not keep them from being thrown into the fire but he was with them in the fire. Maybe this will help us when we feel like we are in a fiery trial. We may be angry at God because he could have stopped it. This is true. He could have, but He didn't. I can't pretend I know why. Many of us have had a lot of difficult things happen this year. We can take comfort in the fact that God has been with us in the fire.
Some of the last words Jesus spoke to his disciples were, "Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) Psalms 46, in verse 7 and 11 says, "The Lord Almighty's with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress. Look at this beautiful description of what God says he will do for us in Isaiah 43
But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.


Do you still need something to feel grateful for? Me,neither.