Firm Faith

 

    King Nebuchadnezzar made a outrageously large idol.  I guess he wasn't convinced that God really existed.  He was so proud of this idol that he ordered all the government VIPs to come and celebrate it being accomplished.  Basically he was ordering everyone to worship it or be burned alive.  After all he was a overly grandiose perfectionist with a short fuse.

    When it came time for the celebration Daniel and his three friends refused to worship the idol because they had faith that God would protect them.  They stood firm in their faith in God. They had seen Him work in their lives and they knew they were in exile because the nation had not stood firm.  It was a no brainer for them, but it appeared risky and bold to anyone observing.  The main thought was who would stand up against Nebuchadnezzar?  Anyone who tried was crushed.

    King Nebuchadnezzar was furious.  He took it as a personal insult that they would not worship his idol.  He began with angry threats because he had not completely forgotten what they had done for him.  However, when they would not budge on their faith, they king allowed his temper get the best of him.  He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal.   Basically he wanted it as hot as it could get.

    The furnace became so hot that the soldiers that were ordered to throw the three men into the fire died from the heat.  Daniel was not thrown in.  It was only Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  I am not sure where Daniel was, but he was telling the story.  They were tied up and had their heads covered before being thrown into the inferno from the top.  

    When the soldiers looked into the fire to confirm that the three men were death.  The king and others were watching from a side window and saw four men walking around.  God was with them in the furnace, so they were unharmed and appeared like gods to those watching.  It is unclear if it was Jesus or an angel in the furnace with the three men, but it is clear that it was because of God.  Their faith quenched the raging fire.

    The king went to the furnace and called out to them.  When the furnace was opened the three walked out unharmed.  They were not singed nor did they smell of smoke.  This is when King Nebuchadnezzar really believed in God.  He ordered the people to worship God with the same intensity that he had with the idol.  The he gave the three men a promotion.

Daniel 3