There were these four young men named Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Meshach (Mishael), Azariah (Abed-Nego), who were captives from Jerusalem when the king of Babylon besieged the city.
These four young men has no blemish; they were good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge, and quick to understand. They were taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans during King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.
Moreover, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom, and there was no one like them. In fact, they were ten times better in wisdom and understanding than all the magicians and astrologers in Babylon!
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and whose wide six cubits, and set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Everyone was commanded to fall down and worship the gold image when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre and psaltery in symphony. Anyone did not fall down and worship would be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Everyone obeyed and worshipped when they heard the sound of music, except for Daniel’s three friends. They were reported to the king. It enraged king Nebuchadnezzar, and he commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to come before him immediately.
Let’s read the incident together.
Daniel 3:14-27 (NKJV)
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have mad, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedinglyh hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 The King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” they answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.
27 … and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power, the hair of their head was not singed nor wee their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
This story is much more than just and example of faith or trust in God. It demonstrates the unwavering confidence Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in who they were in God. They knew that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, and they were willing to face death rather than worship an idol.
Their faith was not contingent on God rescuing them but was rooted in a deep revelation and conviction of who God was. They knew Him personally and were committed to serving Him, no matter the outcome.
This raises an important question for each of us: Do we truly know God?
Do we just believe that He is capable for doing anything and have faith in His power, or do we have a deeper understanding of His nature and character?
Even if He doesn’t come to our rescue in the way we expect when we needed Him the most, will we stand firm in our faith and still proclaim Him as our God?
If we can’t, then we haven’t known Him, not yet!