Nebuchadnezzar, his face purple with anger, cut off
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace fired up seven times
hotter than usual. He ordered some strong men from the army to tie them up,
hands and feet, and throw them into the roaring furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, bound hand and foot, fully dressed from head to toe, were pitched
into the roaring fire. Because the king was in such a hurry and the furnace was
so hot, flames from the furnace killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego to it, while the fire raged around Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, "Didn't we throw
three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire?" "That's right, O
king," they said. "But look!" he said. "I see four men,
walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man
looks like a son of the gods!" Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the
roaring furnace and called in, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants
of the High God, come out here!" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked
out of the fire. All the important people, the government leaders and king's
counselors, gathered around to examine them and discovered that the fire hadn't
so much as touched the three men—not a hair singed, not a scorch mark on their
clothes, not even the smell of fire on them! Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed
be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued
his servants who trusted in him! They ignored the king's orders and laid their
bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own."Therefore
I issue this decree: Anyone anywhere, of any race, color, or creed, who says
anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be ripped to
pieces, limb from limb, and their houses torn down. There has never been a god who
can pull off a rescue like this." Then the king promoted Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
The fire killed those who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
into the furnace, but then Nebuchadnezzar steps up to the door and it doesn’t
kill him. Hmm. Is he invincible? Earlier in verse 15 Nebuchadnezzar had asked, “…what
god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego,
as well as Nebuchadnezzar, were untouched by the fire. God was merciful. Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego were obedient to God when they refused to acknowledge
Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. They were confident that their God would rescue them and
that gave them courage to not fight or resist their opponents, but to take
their punishment. As a result of their commitment, God was there walking with
them in the furnace. He promised in Isaiah 43:2, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the
rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will
not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you (NASB). Nebuchadnezzar again
acknowledges that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is the Most High
God. Since this God rescued them no one can say anything against Him—or off
with their heads!
God promises over
and over that He will be with us…in Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5 and Deuteronomy
31:6, Be strong and courageous, do not be
afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you.
He will not fail you or forsake you (NASB), and in Psalm 94:14, For the Lord
will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance (NASB). What
a comfort these verses are at times that we face danger, opposition or
loneliness.
Have you truly ever
felt the presence of God…of Jesus as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did there
in the fiery furnace? For several years now I continually practice feeling the
presence of God since I know that He is with me, I am never alone. It makes
prayer easier—Jesus is always there to talk to and to share my joys and
sorrows, my hopes and fears. Try it for yourself.
Lord
Jesus, thank you that You are with me, just as You were with Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego in that fiery furnace. Help me to feel Your presence, to be strong
and courageous, to be obedient and to have confidence that You will always
rescue me from any fiery furnace.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Scripture from The Message, except where noted.
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