It was a moment. A life or death powerful moment. One of those moments where you have to know that what you have believed is worth dying for.
Nebuchadnezzar was egotistical, moody and had a fiery temper. This was a problem for this new young king now drunk on power.
He had previously had a vision of a statue which Daniel interpreted as diminishing power with kingdoms defeating Babylon. That was not the way any king wanted his reign to look like. Immortality was a high priority in ancient culture (thus, the pyramids of Egypt).
So Nebuchadnezzar set up an alternative statue to the one we see in Dan 2. This one was gold from top to bottom, implying that his kingdom would be forever. Not like the one God had spoken to him about.
He gathered all the leaders far and wide and at the sound of music, he made them fall down and worship the statue or die. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not.
Where was Daniel? Perhaps he was gone on a trip representing Babylon. We really don’t know. But from his past and future actions, we can be sure he too would not bow.
When it came time to worship the statue, the 3 Israelites did not. Would not. Whem confronted they said this:
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
And so the king had them thrown in a furnace that was 7 times hotter than previous. Basically, as hot as it could go. So hot that it killed the people throwing them in.
But God preserved the life of these three men. And King Nebuchadnezzar as he peered into the furnace from a distance saw one with them like the son of the gods.
Was this Jesus? Was it Gabriel? We don’t know. But whoever it was, it was either Jesus or a representative sent from heaven. Bottom line? God was with them.
Then Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed that no one should dare speak a word against the God who had spared the life of these 3 men. And for a moment the king praised the God of Israel.
These men were also promoted in the kingdom.
As I’m reading this, it is so good to dwell on the response of Sharach, Meshach and Abednego. It’s life-changing.
Will we trust God even if he doesn’t deliver us?
Will we trust Him in the fire and not just if he delivers us from it?
There are many types of suffering, threats and “fires” we face. Not all of them are life and death matters of the body but there are some of our trials that are life and death threats to the heart, to the soul, or to the spirit. Those things are suffering or abuse or hardship that does not abate after days, weeks, months, years and even decades.
Do I trust God even if he doesn’t deliver me from prolonged suffering?
Truth is I haven’t done a great job of that. I’ve often been angry with God, questioning his love for me.
Will I trust God in the fire? Is His Presence with me in the suffering sufficient?