The "History Channel" has a miniseries going right now, simply called "The Bible." It seems like every few years Hollywood will put out movies or TV shows having to do with The Bible. A few years ago Mel Gibson produced the highly acclaimed "Passion of the Christ." Of course everyone remembers Charlton Heston as Moses in "The Ten Commandments." There have been lots of others, some better than others. I find it interesting that The History Channel's "The Bible" series drew a record 13.1 million viewers. The critics can't believe that it has beat "American Idol" in the ratings. I have no idea what draws different viewers to different programs. I can only speak for myself.
This particular miniseries focuses on many of the Bible stories that we are familiar with and learned when we were little. As far back as I can remember I have watched skits and seen flannel board portrayals of all of these Bible stories. The Creation, The Exodus, Abraham and Sarah, David and Goliath, Noah's Ark.......the list goes on and on. I have loved watching as this show threads these stories together on a sortof "timeline" leading up to the birth of Jesus. I think that the creators of this show somehow use these stories to show how God has always used ordinary people, who are going about their daily grind, for His eternal purposes and perfect plan. I can't say which part of last night's episode was my favorite because every story is such an important piece of the larger story. But, I was especially touched by the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were the three that were thrown in to furnace of fire that the King had ordered to be heated seven times hotter than usual. (As if regular fire isn't hot enough.) In fact, it was so hot that the Bible says that the soldiers who took these three men to the fire were killed as a result of the flame. Well, the movie shows these three young Isralite boys terrified and screaming as they are thrown to the fire and engulfed by the flames, yet they aren't burning. And here it comes...........the King looks and sees not three men, but four walking around in the fire. He also exclaims in something between anger and awe, "I see four men walking around in the fire, unharmed and unbound, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." WOW. I remember this story about the three in the fiery furnace and I remember Daniel in the lion's den from VBS and flannel boards but for some reason I am taken in by this new detail.
Another reason that I have loved watching this miniseries is that it causes me to want to get out my Bible and look deeper at the stories. Not to check every detail to make sure it's historically correct, but to know what the full story is. There is only so much that can be put into a two hour program and so many details that are only found in the truth of scripture. There is nothing so real as the way God speaks to His children as through His holy word, The Bible. Not only were these men not burned but they did not even smell like smoke. The Bible says that not one hair on their heads was singed. And the most amazing thing..........Jesus was right there with them. He was in the furnace walking around with them, in the midst of their fear He was really there. I have got to believe that these three young men were clinging to the promise of the prophesy that they had learned from the prophet Isaiah which says "Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name. You are mine. 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. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel; your Savior." (Isaiah 43:1) I am telling you, you can "watch the movie" all day long but the Word speaks to your heart.
The violence in the series has been a lot to watch. The killing of the babies, the lack of respect for women, the beheadings and stabbings. It is a lot to take in, and sadly, that's the way that it was. Brutal and bloody. Power against weakness..........Light against Dark. But the worst is yet to come. There was no death as brutal and degrading as a crucifixion. There were so many touching moments last night that I really could go on and on, but I loved when Jesus approached Peter in his boat to invite him to follow and become a "fisher of men." Again, I always thought that Peter just put everything down and followed him. But the Gospel of Luke says in the fifth chapter that Jesus did indeed get into the boat with Simon Peter and "talked with him and taught the people." Meanwhile, Peter is catching so many fish that he can't get them all in the boat. I don't know what people who are already in Heaven can see here on this Earth, but I thought of the thousands of people gathered in Rome this past week at St Peter's Square where it is said that Peter was executed and wondered what Peter would think if he could witness it. Jesus promised Peter that he would become a "fisher of men" and that is exactly what he became. I encourage anyone reading this to find time to read God's truth in the Bible. Don't believe everything you see or hear........search for yourself. It will bless you and you will be glad you did. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
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