THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION: HOW GOD TURNS DIRT INTO GOLD

"[10] Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of
affliction.

[11] For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be
polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another." - Isaiah 48:10,11

What is a furnace? (This isn't the furnace that heats your house)

FUR'NACE, noun [Latin fornax, furnus, either from burning, or the sense is an arch.]

1. A place where a vehement fire and heat may be made and maintained, for melting ores or
metals, etc. A furnace for casting cannon and other large operations is inclosed with walls
through which a current of air is blown from a large bellows. In smaller operations a vessel is
constructed with a chamber or cavity, with a door and a grate.

IRON ORE - Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically
extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in colour from dark grey, bright
yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite,
hematite, goethite, limonite or siderite.

Ores containing very high quantities of hematite or magnetite (greater than about 60% iron) are
known as "natural ore" or "direct shipping ore", meaning they can be fed directly into iron-
making blast furnaces. Iron ore is the raw material used to make pig iron, which is one of the
main raw materials to make steel—98% of the mined iron ore is used to make steel. Indeed, it
has been argued that iron ore is "more integral to the global economy than any other
commodity, except perhaps oil"

Who does God put in a furnace?

1. The people that profess His name

"[17] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

[18] Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron,
and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.

[19] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will
gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
[20] As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to
blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave
you there, and melt you.

[21] Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in
the midst thereof.

[22] As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and
ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you." - Ezekiel 22:17-22

He said all the people were the dross of silver. What is dross?

DROSS

DROSS, noun [G.]

1. The recrement or despumation of metals; the scum or extraneous matter of metals, thrown
off in the process of melting.

(DESPUMATION -Separation of scum or impurities from liquid

RECREMENT - superfluous matter separated from that which is useful)

2. Rust; crust of metals; an incrustation formed on metals by oxydation.

3. Waste matter; refuse; any worthless matter separated from the better part; impure matter.

So in this case, all the people were dross. He is talking about destroying all of them or most of
them(There is always a remnant of righteous). They were wicked and had committed many sins
against God. This is why they were dross or fit to be destroyed by God.

God considers all lost people as dross.

"Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies." -
Psalms 119:119

He will burn and destroy with everlasting destruction all the wicked in a furnace of fire:

"[40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this
world.

[41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all
things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

[42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears
to hear, let him hear.

[49] So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from
among the just,

[50] And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." -
Matthew 13:40-43,49,50

"...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

[8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ:

[9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power;" - II Thessalonians 1:7-9

Israel was brought into the furnace by God and melted, which was Babylon, so that the dross of
the wicked people would be eliminated and also to burn the dross off the righteous people.

Israel was brought to Egypt and Egypt was called the iron furnace

"[20] 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." - Deuteronomy 4:20

"[51] For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt,
from the midst of the furnace of iron:" - I Kings 8:51

What happened in the iron furnace?

"[7] And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed
exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

[8] Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

[9] And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and
mightier than we:

[10] Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when
there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them
up out of the land.
[11] Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they
built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

[12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were
grieved because of the children of Israel." - Exodus 1:7-12

So Israel was afflicted in the iron furnace and the more they were afflicted, the more they
multiplied and grew. This means that God used the affliction for the good of His people.

God states this many times in the Bible. We will first look at how affliction and trials are
connected to refining silver

"[10] For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

[11] Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

[12] Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but
thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." - Psalms 66:10-12

"[3] The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts." -
Proverbs 17:3

"...that he had not tried them with that intensity of heat which was necessary to melt and refine
silver; and remarks, that those skilled in metals observe that gold is easily liquified, but that
silver requires a more intense heat to purify it." - John Gill

More intense heat means more intense trials and afflictions

It is said that a silversmith must heat up the silver to scoop out the dross from the top. Then he
must increase the heat even more intense to scoop more impurities off the top. He continues
this process until he can see His reflection in the silver.

But the real goal is to mold the silver into whatever shape the silversmith wants.

This is the goal of God. He wants us to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ

"[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to his purpose.

[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son" - Romans 8:28,29

So the goal is to mold the silver into the desired shape, but in order to get there impurities need
to be removed. This is sin in the beleiver's life. These are removed by affliction and trials.
Removing sin from your life helps you to be molded into a vessel of honor

"[19] Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them
that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

[20] But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

[21] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified,
and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

[22] Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call
on the Lord out of a pure heart." - II Timothy 2:19-22

Also we see that the intensity of the heat must increase each time. It is the same with the
Christian life. God knows that after you have experienced a trial that has strengthened your faith
and helped you to grow, He cannot use the same trial again to help you grow. The trial must be
intensified to get to the next level. God must turn up the heat in the furnace.

"[12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you:

[13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." - I Peter 4:12,13

2. Jesus has been in the furnace

"[13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a
garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame
of fire;

[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound
of many waters." - Revelation 1:13-15

Jesus has been in the furnace and is still in the furnace with us going through every trial and
affliction

He was in a literal furnace with His people as well

"[24] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said
unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered
and said unto the king, True, O king.
[25] He answered and said, 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 3:24,25

3. The word of God has been in the furnace

"[6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven
times.

[7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." -
Psalms 12:6,7

The word of God is perfect and has no dross. The number 7 represents perfection. This is the
meaning of the verses. Also, how have the words of the Lord been in a fiery furnace?

"For our God is a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:29

Psalm 12 also talks about preservation. Over the past 2,000 years the word of God has been
attacked and many have tried to destroy it. They were unsuccessful and the word of God is still
preserved for us today. The scriptures have been through this fiery furnace and remain
unscathed.

AFFLICTION

So now that we know what the furnace is and who goes in the furnace, what about the affliction
part? The first verse we look at said "furnace of affliction". We have examined some verses
connecting affliction and the fiery furnace, but let's look at a few more about affiction.

"[67] Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

[71] It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

[75] I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted
me." - Psalms 119:67,71,75

"[3] Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

[4] And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came
and devoured it up.

[5] And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up,
because it had no depth of earth:
[6] But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

[7] And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

[8] And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought
forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

[13] And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

[14] The sower soweth the word.

[15] And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard,
Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

[16] And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard
the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

[17] And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or
persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

[18] And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

[19] And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things
entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

[20] And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it,
and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." - Mark 4:3-8,13-20

"[3] That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are
appointed thereunto.

[4] For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even
as it came to pass, and ye know." - I Thessalonians 3:3,4

"[24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter;

[25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of
sin for a season;

[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had
respect unto the recompence of the reward." - Hebrews 11:24-26
"[10] Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example
of suffering affliction, and of patience.

[11] Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have
seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." - James 5:10,11

"[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:

[9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your
brethren that are in the world.

[10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that
ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." - I Peter 5:8-10

THE ATTITUDE WE SHOULD HAVE TOWARDS AFFLICTION

"[17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory;

[18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the
things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." - II
Corinthians 4:17,18

DIRT TO GOLD

"[13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

[14] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." - Psalm 103:13,14

"when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." - Job 23:10