For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined…. We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment. (Psalm 66:10, 12)
Anyone who is determined to follow the Lord knows what it means to be tested. In some form or fashion, all of us have been subjected to some kind of suffering that challenged our faith and loyalty to God. Also, when God allows us to be tested, He knows just what is needed in order to bring to light that which He desires to accomplish in us. It is my belief that He calibrates the test to the individual, which means that what might be a minor inconvenience to a more mature believer could be a major test for another. In other words, He knows where we are in our walk and just what we need to continue our growth without allowing us to be utterly swept away by the testing.
In Jewish thought, the greatest of tests is exile from the land of Israel. More than drought, famine or war, being sent away from the land of promise and forced to live on foreign soil has been God’s way of determining whether or not His people would remain loyal. While exile has always been a consequence of Israel’s disobedience — this fact is established in the beginning when Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden — it has also provided an opportunity for the people of God to acknowledge their failure and, in turn, prove their commitment to God. It has been, in some sense, the crucible that eliminates the dross from His people, refining them into something of great value.
Whether in Egypt, when Pharaoh tested them with the waters of the Nile, or in Babylon where Nebuchadnezzar caused them to be thrown into the fire, God has allowed Israel’s exile to provoke a demonstration of true faith and commitment. In so doing, those who loved Hims pread His fame to other regions. On that note, let’s consider the three men, Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego: I’m sure they would have preferred not to be in Babylon serving a pagan king. No doubt, they would have preferred to be in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, God placed them in a situation that tested them to the point of determining whether commitment to God was more precious than life itself.
You know the story but here’s the point: their test not only proved their faith in God but also allowed those who did not know the Lord, in this case Nebuchadnezzar, to realize that the God of Israel is God. In short, the test of our faith is not just for us; when others see our commitment to Him rewarded with rich fulfillment, He is glorified in the eyes of the nations. So when we are tested, keep in mind it might be that you are being used to bring others into the kingdom — so be faithful.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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