“He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.”

“Tested by fire”.  That was what I heard from an employee who was summing up her first six months in a new job.  Materials being tested by fire is not a bad thing as fire has proven to strengthen many elements and is used to make the strongest of materials, stronger.  However, testing a human “by fire” is risky.  If already concerned about the new job, the new culture and with any history of burnout, we could be setting ourselves up for a premature ending of the relationship with someone we just hired and had high hopes for success.  So, it would be wise to consider that the test of a new hire doesn’t always have to be with fire.

Daniel and his sidekicks are famous for coming through the fiery furnace unscathed and stronger than before.  What I find instructive about the story is that when being readied for their test, King Nebuchadnezzar told his servants to make the fire “seven times hotter” than usual before they threw the resistors of his decrees into the furnace.  First of all, can one really make a fire seven times hotter?  Probably not, but just hearing that order had to make Daniel lean that much more on God for his salvation.  Maybe that is why it can feel like the heat is being turned up on us just before we are taking a stand or a move forward for God.  The fire being increased is just God’s reminder to us that He is the only way through what is before us.

Reference: Daniel 3:19 (New Living Translation)