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“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.”
Malachi 3:3
Throughout the Bible, God is described in many different ways. Most of the time, those images are repeated in one way or another later in scripture. This account of God as a refiner of silver is unique and is rarely referred to; but, it is one of the most beautiful and powerful images we have of Him.
During the process of refining silver, the silversmith holds the silver into the center, the hottest part, of the fire as that is the only way impurities will be melted away. He cannot leave the silver or it can be damaged and it cannot be left in the heat too long or too short of a time. Each piece of silver is unique and there is no specific timing the pieces must remain in the fire. A seasoned silversmith will tell you the silver is only finished when he can see the reflection of himself in it.
What a beautiful analogy for our Father! He sits with us and tends to the fire as we are refined and molded into the image He wants for us. Our impurities are melted away as we become like Him. And just like the silver, there are times we remain in the heart of the fire, the hottest place possible. We will feel the heat but we can rest assured in the fact that we are never alone. We will not be left until He can see His reflection in each and every one of us and only then will we be removed to be with Him.
I am so thankful to know that my God has the patience and the desire to stay with me until I turn into the beautiful creature He desires me to be.
