Salvation from the fiery furnace
Dan. 3
Daniel, Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego were captives in Babylon. Though far away from their homes, they did not want to defile themselves with the things in Babylon. And as wisdom and strength belongs to the LORD, they became ten times wiser than others (Dan. 1:20). Daniel even had to tell the king his dreams and interpret them.
One day, Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits in height and six cubits in width and asked everyone to bow down and worship it. Those refusing to do it shall be thrown into the fiery furnace. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused. They were brought before the angry king who asked them, “Who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?” They answered, ““O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up” (Dan. 3:15-18).
How courageous they were!
Many Christians today are free to worship the LORD every day. The majority of us are not even forced to worship other gods. But when we find little hiccups along the way, we falter and stumble. We have a lot to learn from these young Hebrews.
- Even if new teachings and ideas come, let us remember that the word of the LORD does not change. It is us who change.
- They were about to be thrown into the fire. But they did not compromise or even attempt to compromise with the king.
- They knew that God can deliver them. They trusted in Him completely.
- They said that even if God does not help them, they would not bow down before the golden statue.
They knew the LORD they serve. And therefore, when they were thrown into the furnace (made hotter seven fold), their hairs were not burnt, nor their clothes. They did not even smell of fire. In fact, they had someone inside the fire walking with them.
In the end, the king announced that everyone who blasphemes against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses made into ruins.
We may not be great in numbers and our abilities may be limited. But if we remain faithful to the LORD, we can change nations, and even the world, just like the three Hebrews.