A Brand Plucked from Fire

During one of our earlier visits to US, Pastor Jerry Van Dyken, a Methodist Pastor (who was then serving the Christ Methodist Church, Venice, Florida) on hearing my testimony of how my life was spared from a burning bus (the link to that story is: http://graceidarajan.blogspot.in/2011/08/grace-my-life.html ) said that I was like a brand plucked from fire like the one mentioned in Zechariah 3:2. I have always realized that this miracle in my life, is not a matter of pride, but is an act of God’s grace to fulfill His purpose for me in my earthly life. I also learnt that John Wesley always considered himself as a brand plucked from fire. Because when he was a mere five year old, he was graciously spared from a fire that engulfed the Wesleys house. So I found this phrase “a brand plucked from fire” interesting and was curious to study Zechariah 3:2.

Joshua was that man mentioned in this verse as a brand plucked from fire. He was a high priest, who had returned from the Babylonian exile. Some say that, he was spared in a fiery furnace that Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king used to punish prophets from Judah. The fire consumed two false prophets Ahab and Zechariah, who were liars and adulterers of neighbor’s wives (Jeremiah 29:22-23). Some extra Biblical records say that Joshua was spared when 8000 priests once fled to a temple and were burnt in it.  His rescue from fire is true whatever be the case. After his rescue he received a covenant from the Lord : 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts… (Zechariah 3:6-7). God also spared Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the punishment of a fiery furnace given by the same king Nebuchadnezzar, just like how he spared Joshua. Through these miracles, the King and the people in the kingdom came to know the power of the Yahweh God (Daniel 3).

Miracles such as these are acts of grace from a God of mercy. It also affirms the purpose of God in the recipient's  life, which has to be lived out for His glory. We also need to know that sin is more dangerous than a physical fire (Isaiah 9:18).  It follows a person who committed it (Numbers 32:23) and also affects people around. More importantly, the Bible says that sin leads a person to eternal fire (Matthew 25:41). For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Salvation from sin is the process of getting plucked from eternal fire. Who will not like to be a brand plucked from eternal fire and enjoy the free gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ?