But first, lets set the scene. Daniel 3 tells us the awe-inspiring account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego's uncompromising stance in the face of a life-or-death situation. The King of Babylon had made a decree that everyone should bow in worship to his statue at a musical cue - on pain of death.
No Compromise
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego went to the square where the statue stood as summoned along with the rest of the city, but when the instruments sounded, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were still standing.
By this time, these three had been through a lot. They had experienced the destruction of their nation, the death of family and friends, forced exile from all that was dear and familiar to a strange land and people. They'd been trained as the King's advisors, escaped death by the skin of their teeth (Daniel 2), and now they stood standing in the midst of a sea of bowing men, with the certainty of death hanging over them again.
They were arrested and taken to the enraged King, who threatened them:
“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?Their answer was swift and blunt:
Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”It's clear that the matter was settled in their hearts. Does it amaze you that they did not try to butter up the King, or express themselves in less incriminating language? They did not try to run from the situation. They stated their position clearly, and was prepared to pay the full price for it. No wonder King Nebuchadnezzer was hopping mad!
Now let's get into the meat of this.
Mac Hammond stated that their words were full of faith. They declared God's ABILITY: "our God whom we serve is ABLE to deliver from the burning fiery furnace"; they declared God's willingness: "and He will deliver us from your hand, O king."
Many Christians who have heard faith teachings might recognise this principle of the power of declaration; and there are many who do the same. They declare God's Word, and they declare His willingness. They hope for the best, and expect the goodness of God to be shown in their lives. However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego took it one step further. They had made up their minds that no circumstance would induce them to change their view of God, or of their decision to disobey the King's command in question: but if not, let it be known to you O King, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.
These three young men were refusing to lock God into the course of action they thought He should take. Mac made the point that for many people, their faith wavers when the outcome is not as they thought. I didn't get the money in time. I must have prayed wrong. Maybe I'm just not righteous enough.
Or,
My friend still died of cancer, even though we all believed for healing and did everything we could. Maybe healing isn't for today...Maybe God doesn't exist!
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego had it settled in their hearts and minds: God was still God whether or not they were delivered from the fiery furnace, and they would still love and obey Him.
The Bible tells us that the King's expression changed towards these three men (Dan 3:19), and he ordered that the furnace be heated seven-fold. They were bound - turban, robes and all. They were carried roughly over to the furnace, and thrown into it, while the men who carried them screamed in their death throes as they roasted in the super-heated flames. The men throwing them in died, but Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were seen walking in the flames.
His way, not our way
If I was Shadrach, Meshach or Abed-Nego, I would have expected God to have delivered me before the situation got a bit too desperate. It would have made sense if God delivered me before I was bound, or at least in the distance between the palace and the furnace.
God could have sent someone running to distract the King, or caused the furnace to refuse to heat up or or or... But no - the fire was allowed to be successfully heated seven-fold, and they were thrown into it.
They were only delivered when they were thrown in. There is no record of them struggling, or crying for mercy. They had chosen their course, and they trusted God for their future no matter whether it was to be continued on earth, or in heaven. Perhaps, as they glimpsed the fierce glow of the furnace coming into view, they were fully expecting to leave this world. But the prospect did not change their minds.
God doesn't change
Just because God was not doing what they had hoped, did it mean that God's arm had shortened? Just because God had not showed up, did it mean that He did not exist, or that He was not actually a good God? No! God revealed His ace within the fire. The bonds burnt up. He walked with them in the midst of the fire, and they emerged unscathed and unaffected by the flames. They did not even have the smell of smoke on them (v.27). And the whole outlook of a nation was changed as a result.
As He walked with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the midst of the fire, so will He walk with you. As He glorified Himself in the eyes of King Nebuchadnezzar and all his advisors, so will He glorify Himself before the mocking eyes of all those gloating over your difficulty so that they will speak as Nebuchadnezzar did:
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”There is no other God who can deliver like this. He always has an ace ready.
Why does He allow it?
So what can we expect if we find ourselves thrown into a fiery furnace while trusting Him?
- we will be loosed from our bonds
- We will walk with the Lord in closer intimacy than would otherwise have been possible
- We will walk out from the fire without the smell of smoke
- The power and reality of God will be revealed to unbelievers, and the course of their destiny altered forever
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Mac Hammond explained that the word 'promoted' has the literal meaning of 'made to prosper'. God used the same evil entity that threw them into the fire to make them prosper after they had emerged from the fire.
You will be made to prosper, and He could use the very same difficult person or situation to do it.
Praise the Lord!
- Cultivate an enduring faith and trust in God that is not moved by circumstance.
- No compromise.
- Don't limit Him to our way of doing things.
- God always has an ace ready. Trust Him to reveal it in His time.
- The result of our trust before and during the fire is calculated to be much bigger than you and your life.
Are you encouraged? I know I am. Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.
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