Rev. J. Patrick Street
Jerusalem, the City of God, lays in ruin. The Babylonian Army led by King Nebuchadnezzar had burnedthe city and its people taken captive. Now there were three young Hebrews among them—Shadrach,Meshachand Abednego. And not long after their arrival in Babylon, they saw people bowing before agolden image. God’s law came to their minds as He commanded, “Thou shalt have no other gods”(Exodus 20:3). The three were brought before the king for refusing to bow. He said, “I’ll give you onemore chance … kneel before the golden image or I’ll throw you into a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3).
But the three young men of faithwould not bend or bow and were cast into the fire. Thenan amazing thing happened.Instead of dying in the flames, they are loosed from their bonds and are walking around in the flames.Nebuchadnezzar cannot believe his eyes and commands them to come out, which they do, totally unharmed by the violence of the flames.Now notice how this amazing preservation took place.
First, they werepreserved by an ever present God. When Shadrach. Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the flames,they found that they were not alone.The God they had professed faith in earlier met them in the fire.Nebuchadnezzar said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25).
What happened because the Lord met them in the fiery furnace? They were free in the fire.The Lord used the fire to loosen these men from the ropes that held them.The fire has the power to set you and me free from the things that bind us and hinder our walk with the Lord.
They were also fine in the fire. We are told that they were walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed. The fire did not kill them;it didn’t even burn them!God allowed them to go through the fire, but He did not allow the fire to go through them. There is a powerful truth here for those walking through a fiery furnace. God did not allow it for your harm, but for your good (Romans 8:28).
Secondly, they were preserved by an all powerful God. When the three Hebrews came out of the furnace, they were inspected by Nebuchadnezzar. We are told that not a hair was singed and they didn’t even smell like smoke!What a miracle!The mighty power of God operated in this situation and overcame the furnace totally!
That’s God!When He does something, He does it all the way. When He saves, He saves completely! When He forgives, He forgives completely.How?Because He is all powerful and He uses that power in your life and mine (Ephesians 3:20)! Remember you serve Almighty God, Who is able to keep you in the times of affliction and Who is able to bring you through the fire!
Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.
FAQs
Obedience can be costly
In this story, Meshach, Shadrach & Abednego demonstrated obedience in the face of incredible danger. They were literally thrown into the fiery furnace for choosing to be obedient to God instead of obedient to King Nebuchadnezzar. This is a danger that we do face today.
What does the fiery furnace symbolize? ›
The fiery furnace is one of the classic images from the Bible, and it represents the victory of people standing up for what they believe, and refusing to bow to oppression.
What was the moral lesson of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? ›
Lessons from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Regardless of the outcome, they were committed to their faith, even when faced with a painful death. Because of their faith, God delivered them from the evil – and in doing so, brought the mighty king of Babylon to recognize his Lordship over heaven and earth.
What does faith amidst the fiery furnace mean? ›
Even if God didn't deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire, they were still going to be faithful and obedient to Him. They would rather die in integrity, than live in iniquity.
What does the furnace mean in the Bible? ›
"A smoking furnace and a burning lamp" ( Genesis 15:17 ), the symbol of the presence of the Almighty, passed between the divided pieces of Abraham's sacrifice in ratification of the covenant God made with him. (See OVEN .) Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven ( Matthew 13:42 Matthew 13:50 ; Revelation 1:15 ; 9:2 ).
What lessons can we learn from Daniel 3? ›
Recognition of the king as a kind of god. Denial of the true God. Rejection of the first and second commandments of the Decalogue. Recognition of the Babylonian gods as superior to other gods and the true God.
What is the summary of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? ›
In the narrative, the three Jewish men are thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon for refusing to bow to the king's image. The three are preserved from harm and the king sees four men walking in the flames, "the fourth ... like a son of God".
What was the famous line of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? ›
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
Who was the fourth person in the Fiery furnace? ›
When the three Hebrew children—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—were thrown into a fiery furnace because of their faithfulness to God, King Nebuchadnezzar, came to witness their execution—but he was stunned to see not three but four men in the fire…and he recognized that the fourth man in the fire was none other than ...
What is the memory verse for the fiery furnace? ›
Daniel 3:17-18 King James Version (KJV)
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
They are not tied up and they are not burned. The fourth man looks like an angel.” Then Nebuchadnezzar went to the opening of the hot furnace. He shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out! Servants of the Most High God, come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
What is the meaning of fire furnace? ›
(fɜːʳnɪs ) countable noun. A furnace is a container or enclosed space in which a very hot fire is made, for example to melt metal, burn rubbish, or produce steam.
What is the moral lesson of the story of Daniel? ›
Trust in God
Even in the post dangerous of places, alongside ferocious lions (the real ones probably looked even more scary than Leo in our animation!), Daniel trusted in God's power to save him. And he did. Even King Darius could see Daniel's commitment and trust in God.
What is the lesson of the three men in the fiery furnace Sunday school? ›
King Nebuchadnezzar sentenced them to be thrown into a fiery furnace, but they believed God would protect them from harm. In this Bible lesson, the children learn that God wants you to stand strong and remain faithful in Him.
What is the lesson of the story of Nebuchadnezzar? ›
His plans never fail. Every period of difficulty, even suffering, has an end. No circ*mstance in life, good or painful, is without a God directed purpose which is to redirect us and grow us into being more God focused and God honouring. So our character and words will better express His character.
What is the purpose of fiery trials? ›
God always has a purpose, and part of His purpose for “fiery trials” is testing—refining, purifying, sanctifying—His people.
