Daniel 3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel Chapter 3 is one of my favorite parts of the Bible.
Earlier in this same chapter we read that King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image. He then made a public decree "or order" that everyone had to bow down and worship this image. If they did not do as the king stated they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. This is where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego comes into place. They were found not bowing and worshiping this idol.
We read in verse 18 that they told the king they would serve not his "gods". These three young men knew what their punishment would be if they didn't. But they also knew that God could deliver them out of any situation the king place them in.
So King Nebuchadnezzar full of fury demanded that these men be thrown in the furnace, but he was so angry he also demanded that the furnace was to be heated 7 times hotter than ever before. We read in verse 22 that the flames were so hot it slew the men that threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the furnace.
Then we get into the really good part! To most people the life of verse 23 would seem to have no hope. Here they are not only thrown into this hot furnace but the Bible says they fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. I am so glad this is not the end of the story.
You may be reading this blog and thinking about how hard your life is. You may feel that you are in a hopeless situation. We have all been there. But it doesn't have to end there! For we look again at verse 24. Now old king is astonished. Why? Because he sees how great our God is! He just couldn't comprehend what in the world was going on. Look at the things he sees:
1. Instead of 3 men there are now 4!
2. No one was bound up anymore, all 4 men are loose!
3. They were walking in the midst of the fire!
4. They have no hurt!
5. And then the greatest moment yet. He says that fourth man IS LIKE THE SON OF GOD!
Whatever your personal fiery furnace is. Jesus wants and desires to be right there with you. You may be bound down with the feeling of no escape. Jesus wants to lift you up and walk with you today.
