But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. ~ Isaiah 43: 1-2
In Isaiah 43:1-2, God promises us that we will not be burned as we walk through the fire. This is not because we have any special fire-resistant properties, but because He will protect the peculiar people (valued possession) which he has redeemed (Exodus 19:5; Titus 2:11-14). However, we must obey Him and be faithful to Him to be His peculiar treasure.
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. ~ Exodus 19:5-6
God brought the Israelites out of the iron furnace of Egypt so that they would be His people (Jeremiah 11:4). In Daniel 3, because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful to God, they were able to go through the fiery furnace without “an hair of their head singed.” But the king observed that there was a fourth person “like the Son of God” in the furnace with them.
Today, God has chosen to leave us in the iron furnace of this world, but He will protect us as He has given us a promise. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego we will not be burned if we are faithful to Him and if we allow Jesus to walk through the furnace with us.
