“He 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 3:25
Nebuchadnezzar was tyrant who decided one day to set up a statue to be worshiped. All who refused to worship the statue were commanded to be thrown into a furnace of fire. There were three faithful Hebrews that refused to bow down to any god but the one true God of the Jews. When Nebuchadnezzar heard of their refusal he confronted them and gave them all a second chance to obey.
Their response to his commands were important. They said they didn’t even have to think about an answer, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.” Daniel 3:16
They believed by faith that God if He wanted to could save them from the furnace but even if He didn’t He would deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Daniel 3:17
They went on to say that even if God could not come through they still would not worship the false god that was made by human hands, “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:18
Their statement “If it be so” demonstrated their faith in God’s sovereignty. They knew that they couldn’t even be thrown into the furnace except by God’s permission. Jesus expressed this same faith to Pilate, “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” John 19:11
They demonstrated their faith in God’s mercy by believing He would rescue them from the fire. And then they made a peculiar statement. They said that if God did not rescue them from the fire He would rescue them from the king. They were demonstrating for us a truth not taught until later in the Bible. Jesus taught it to His disciples. “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:4-5
They understood that the power of evil in this world could not reach them beyond death and that God’s method of freeing them from the king may be death because then he would lose power over them. Often times we struggle against evil, disappointment, and hard times in this life but God has power over all these things, they can’t come into your life unless He allows it.
By faith trust that what He allows He will also help you through. Don’t spend your time fearing those who can only hurt you in this world. God has power after death to cast into hell. Fear Him not the things of this world. Trust that He is merciful and kind. Just as He walked through the fire with them so He is willing and able to walk through the fires and storms of this life with you. If your faithful as these young men were. They were a faithful witness to the power and mercy of God toward those who will stand firm for what is right in the face of overwhelming evil. Trust God.
The Gospel Beacon 