Die Beeld in die Spieël

Malachi 3:3- "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a bible study and they wondered what Thisstatement about the character and nature of God. One of the womenoffered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to thegroup at their next Bible study.

That week, the women called a silversmith and made an appointment towatch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for herinterest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. Asshe watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire And let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver one needed to holdthe silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as toburn away all the impurities.

The women thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then shethought Again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner andpurifier of silver," She asked the silversmith if it was true that hehad to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver wasbeing refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit thereholding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entiretime it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in heflames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "Howdo you know when the silver is fully refined?"He smiled at her and answered,"Oh that's easy-when I see my image init" If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God hasHis eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image inyou.