Today’s Scripture is one that many will know, having learned of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as a child in Sunday School. The account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is not just a Bible story for young children, as there are many good truths and lessons we also can learn. Let’s see what we can glean from their example today.
These three young men were among the first group of Hebrews that the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken captive and brought back to Babylon when he conquered the Kingdom of Judah. They, along with their companion Daniel, were godly believers in Yahweh, and had determined they would not forsake Him, even though they were in a foreign, pagan, idol worshipping land. It wasn’t long before their commitment to the Lord God would be put to the test.
Nebuchadnezzar was a proud and powerful king of the world’s largest empire to date. In order to show his power, and to promote submission to his authority he set up a large golden statue of himself, which was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. No one could miss seeing this. Nebuchadnezzar gave orders that at the sound of the music everyone was to bow down and worship the idol (vs 1-7). Those who failed to do so were to be arrested and thrown into a fiery furnace.
Immediately it was noted that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were refusing to bow and worship the idol. They were taken into custody and brought before the king (vs 8-12). He gave them one more chance to change their mind and bow, but they didn’t need to ponder or consider how they would answer. They served the one and only living God, and would not bow to idols (vs 8-18). Now they faced the fiery furnace. This would have been a huge, industrial type furnace, and was so hot that it killed the soldiers who brought them to it. They were bound hand and foot, and thrown into the furnace (vs 19-23).
Why didn’t they bow and then tell God they didn’t mean it? They were steadfast and committed in their beliefs. They would not bow, would not bend. They didn’t know if they would be delivered from the furnace. Either way, they would stay true to Yahweh. Standing for God will make us stand out. They trusted God, and were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not know whether God would deliver them or not. They knew that He could, not whether He would. Either way, they were determined to serve Him.
While in the furnace, the king notices that the men who were thrown in were not immediately burned to death. In fact, they are walking around in the furnace, and there is an additional Person walking with them. He exclaimed that the fourth person looks like the Son of God (vs 24-25). This was possibly a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, a Christophany. God did not leave them alone in their time of need. He joined and protected them in flames. They wouldn't bend, they wouldn't bow, they would not burn. God remains with us in our trials, even ones as seemingly hopeless as this furnace. Even if our suffering doesn’t end, God is always trustworthy and good, and He will always be with us. When they came out of the furnace they were completely untouched by the fire (vs 26-27).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had faith in the only true God, and knew the right thing to do. It may not be easy to fight for what is right, but God will reward those who stand up for Him and refuse to yield to evil. If God always rescued believers from any trial, Christians would not need faith. We should be faithful to serve God whether He intervenes for us or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure.
Trust God in every situation. He has His reasons for every trial. Thankfully our destiny is in His hands. We need to cling to God, even if we aren’t healed, even if we don’t find a job, even if we are persecuted. Sometimes God rescues us from our trials, and sometimes He doesn’t. As the three testified, “The God we serve is able” (vs 17-18). He loves us, and He will be with us in every fiery trial.
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