fire won’t burn you

Just Passin’ Through

Posted on by Betsy

Today’s lectionary passage from Isaiah is one of my favorite Scriptures. I recently read this to the Southern Shores firefighters at their Firefighter Academy graduation, as the words are perfect for their commitment and dedication to their calling to put themselves in harm’s way in order to save lives.

As I read it again this morning, it occurred to me that many of us are passing through some type of incendiary event in our lives right now. Addiction, incarceration, divorce, job insecurity, abuse, marital distress … there are fires all around us that threaten to undo us.

What kind of fire are you in today?

Isaiah 43 (New International Version)

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

To be known and called by name by the One who created the universe is a heady thought. That God knows me that well and promises that my particular situation will neither consume me alive nor drown me in the depths of the sea is something I can’t fathom. But yet, he loves us that much.

3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.

At the time of this writing, the nation of Israel had been gathered up and taken into captivity in Babylon. God allowed that to happen because of their disobedience. They had walked away from him, and he allowed them to keep walking. Yet this prophecy foretells a time when they would be returned, restored, and redeemed. This is a timely reminder to us that even when we walk away from the Lord, he will follow us and continue to woo us back into his will.

6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” God won’t spare us from the trials we endure but instead promises to walk through them with us.

Are you in a firestorm today? Look around. God is there, too. You’re just passin’ through.

When You Pass Through the Waters by Michelle Robertson

Walking Through Fire

Posted on by Betsy

Last week was the graduation for the Dare County Firefighters Academy. Seven brave and faithful students received their firefighter certificates after 9 months and 400 hours of classroom and onsite training. That training included 21 weekends of drills. Did I mention that this is a volunteer corps? These new firefighters will serve in Corolla, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, Kill Devil Hills, and Roanoke Island. The spirit of camaraderie was tangible as they coordinated both a wonderful cookout for the guests and sported very loud Hawaiian shirts for the celebration.

I am a brand new volunteer chaplain for the fire department and giving the invocation for the graduation was my first official act. Chaplains only get called out when a death occurs, and I truly hope that attending graduating and offering a blessing over a meal will be the extent of my service with them. I sat in awe of their dedication and willingness to go deliberately into harm’s way to help people, and I pray that none of them come to harm either physically or emotionally as a result of their sacrifice.

I read these words from the 43rd chapter of Isaiah to them. I hoped these words would bring comfort to the new firefighters and their families:

Isaiah 43

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. I have two friends who are going through very difficult custody battles and another who may lose her job. I think of them every day and pray this over them. When things like this happen, remember that you are only PASSING THROUGH this time of your life. It won’t always be this way.

When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. Another friend just lost his wife. Waves of grief will now come on a regular basis for a while. I pray this over him. When someone you love dies, remember that you will not be swept away by the sorrow forever; it will not always feel this way.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. For all of you undergoing cancer treatments, spending another day of your life in prison, struggling to find work, advocating for your family’s rights, walking in protest, fighting your way out of abuse, overcoming addiction … I pray this for you. I pray this for all of our steadfast first responders, who run directly toward danger to protect their communities. When you are experiencing a time of great trial, remember that you won’t be burned by your journey…just keep walking toward God’s promise for your life.

This passage assures you that God had redeemed you. He has summoned you by name. You are his, so do not be afraid.

Thanks be to God.

Sky Fire by Michelle Robertson