This is the second part of our 2 part look at Daniel 3 as we keep moving through our Fire Stories series. These stories in the Bible are so incredible and they show God’s faithfulness as he walks with us in the fires of life no matter what we go through. We are in part 2 of Daniel chapter 3 today as we learn God enters the fire with us.
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Transcription:
Are you ready for, Another in the Fire, Part Two? Hi, I’m Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. Last time you and I dove into the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, three of the bravest people, I believe in the first half of the Bible, the Old Testament. Yeah, you’re right in the middle of a series called Fires in the Bible, and we’ve been talking about God’s promise that he is with us in the fires of life. No matter what we go through, he walks with us, and the fires will not consume us. That’s what his word promises. In this particular story that you and I have been studying this week, we’re gonna see that God actually enters the fire with his people. This story fires me up, this girl is on fire to share part two with you. Last time we learned that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. Where in Daniel chapter three, they were like, sorry, we know you said we’re gonna be thrown into a blazing furnace if we don’t do this, but we know that God can rescue us. And even if he doesn’t, that’s okay. We’re still not gonna worship you, King Nebuchadnezzar, but we will continue to worship the Lord. I mean, it’s an incredible story. I love it so much.
So this, I’m gonna read those last two verses. From last time because they’re so powerful. “‘If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we wanna make it clear to you, your majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.'” Okay, we’re picking it up in verse 19. “Nebuchadnezzar, the king was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded,” Oh, this is gonna, ooh, just gives me the chills. “He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the men in.” So the furnace is heated seven times hotter than usual, the people throwing in these three Godly people are burned from the flames. Think about how hot that furnace was.
“So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors, ‘Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?’ ‘Yes, your majesty, we certainly did.’ they replied. ‘Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted.” Almost see his finger shaking and pointing. “‘Look! I see four men,'” the good chills, “‘unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a God!’ Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.” Did you hear that? They stepped out of the fire. “Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisors crowded around.” Oh, this is my favorite part, “and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was sinned, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” That’s our takeaway verse: “they didn’t even smell of smoke!” God was in the fire with them! Oh my goodness. It’s so powerful. “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any God except their own. Therefore I make this decree:'” new email coming up to send out “‘if any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other God who can rescue like this!’ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.”
Incredible. There is no other God who can rescue like this. I say a big old Amen! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story reminds me of something that happened to my daughter when she was in high school. She plays the ukulele and she was part of a Shakespeare play. And at the end of this one particular play, they were all kind of shouting praises to a different god than the God who Hannah worships, the one true God. And she had to talk to her director and say, I, I can’t be part of that last scene of the play. And the director was like, why? And she explained, she’s like, I just, I feel really funny sending up praises. I can’t do it. My heart won’t let me praise any other God but the one true God. And she had to explain herself in front of the cast. And I remember one person came up to her afterward. It might have been two people who said, wow. That took guts to do that. Hannah stood up. She said, I, I can’t do that. I won’t do that. Even if it means, you know, I’m not gonna be in the play. I’m not willing to praise another God. And I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of my daughter than I was in that moment. She did a wonderful job. I thought she was the best one on stage with her beautiful red hair and all the beautiful music she played. But she went backstage for that last scene, the culminating scene of the play.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.
