In the Book of Daniel, in the Bible, the setting is that because God’s people had turned away from him, he allowed the Babylonians to invade and deport huge numbers of Jewish people to Babylonia. There is an
incident recorded afterwards in Babylonia where three young men who had actually be serving the king refused to bow down to a golden statue that the king had made of himself. The punishment was that all three of them would have one more chance to bow in worship to the idol or be executed by being thrown into a fiery furnace. The young men would not dishonor God by even pretending to worship the idol. The king tells them that this is their last chance and the three young men tell the king that if they are thrown into the blazing fire, the God whom they serve is able to save them. But even if he didn’t “We want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” So soldiers are commanded to throw all three men into the massive furnace and it is so hot that the soldiers themselves die from the heat. The three young Jewish men pick themselves up in the midst of the fire and flame and are seen walking around in furnace…untouched! But then, the Babylonians report that there are not three men walking around in that furnace, but four figures are there. The three young men walk out unharmed and the king becomes a believer in the God of the Bible. It is a reminder to us that there will be times when we will be in some kind of “fiery furnace” in our lives. And only God can save us. He is able, but like our three men we need to declare that even if God doesn’t step in right now and rescue us…we will not give up on him. But remember that fourth man? We don’t know exactly who it was but it was some representative of God…or as some have suggested, that it was this Jesus himself who stood with them in the flames. You stick with God and God will stick with you. No matter what kind of fiery trials you are having to endure right now…God is in the fire with you. You are not alone. No matter how bad it seems right now, how hopeless you feel or how abandoned you think you have been…God is there. You keep honoring him, trusting him and standing tall for him. And God will protect you and make sure you endure the hardest of times and come out walking tall on the other side. God is on your side and is your strong protector…stay with him. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Daniel 3:16-18 NLT Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. (17) 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. (18) But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
incident recorded afterwards in Babylonia where three young men who had actually be serving the king refused to bow down to a golden statue that the king had made of himself. The punishment was that all three of them would have one more chance to bow in worship to the idol or be executed by being thrown into a fiery furnace. The young men would not dishonor God by even pretending to worship the idol. The king tells them that this is their last chance and the three young men tell the king that if they are thrown into the blazing fire, the God whom they serve is able to save them. But even if he didn’t “We want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” So soldiers are commanded to throw all three men into the massive furnace and it is so hot that the soldiers themselves die from the heat. The three young Jewish men pick themselves up in the midst of the fire and flame and are seen walking around in furnace…untouched! But then, the Babylonians report that there are not three men walking around in that furnace, but four figures are there. The three young men walk out unharmed and the king becomes a believer in the God of the Bible. It is a reminder to us that there will be times when we will be in some kind of “fiery furnace” in our lives. And only God can save us. He is able, but like our three men we need to declare that even if God doesn’t step in right now and rescue us…we will not give up on him. But remember that fourth man? We don’t know exactly who it was but it was some representative of God…or as some have suggested, that it was this Jesus himself who stood with them in the flames. You stick with God and God will stick with you. No matter what kind of fiery trials you are having to endure right now…God is in the fire with you. You are not alone. No matter how bad it seems right now, how hopeless you feel or how abandoned you think you have been…God is there. You keep honoring him, trusting him and standing tall for him. And God will protect you and make sure you endure the hardest of times and come out walking tall on the other side. God is on your side and is your strong protector…stay with him. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Daniel 3:16-18 NLT Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. (17) 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. (18) But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ