(Dan 3:30 CEV) After this happened, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in Babylon Province.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” We will close this week off with a high note. Yesterday we saw how the boys refused to worship the statue. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He commanded the furnace to be turned up seven times hotter than normal. It’s not like Level 8 fire was going to kill the boys any faster than Level 1 fire; fire is fire. But in his fury Nebuchadnezzar ordered his best Soldiers to cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace (which was now at Level 8). The three boys were then bound first and then cast into the furnace. But because the command was urgent and the furnace was so hot, the king’s Soldiers were consumed by the fire as they were attempting to kill the boys. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound in the midst of the fiery furnace.
What happened next amazed Nebuchadnezzar and all present. The king jumped up and said, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” His advisors agreed. 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.” So Nebuchadnezzar went closer to the flaming furnace and said to the three young men, “You servants of the Most High God, come out at once!” Wow! How quickly things had changed. The boys came out and the king’s high officials, governors, and advisors all crowded around them. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not burned, their hair wasn’t scorched, and their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke. King Nebuchadnezzar said: “Praise their God for sending an angel to rescue his servants! They trusted their God and refused to obey my commands. Yes, they chose to die rather than to worship or serve any god except their own. And I won’t allow people of any nation or race to say anything against their God. Anyone who does will be chopped up and their houses will be torn down, because no other god has such great power to save.” After this happened, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in Babylon.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God can make the enemy’s attacks backfire on him – naturally speaking, the king’s best Soldiers were killed in the fire. Spiritually speaking, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was acknowledged and reverenced through this situation. That is surely NOT what satan had in mind, but his plan backfired on him and the same will happen in your life (Isa 54:17).
2. God will get in the fire with you – the angel of the Lord came into the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew boys and God is our very present help in the time of trouble (Ps 46:1).
3. God will deliver you internally before He delivers you externally – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were loosed and were walking around free, in the fire, before God delivered them and allowed them to be free outside of the fire. This is important because God will deliver us internally (in our heart and our mind), before He delivers us externally (in our situation).
4. God can bring you out unharmed – they did not even smell like smoke. We serve a God who can bring you through a situation without the situation ever even getting on you!
5. Godly persecution leads to Godly promotion – I am not an advocate of going through trouble. But I do realize that if we are attacked, simply because of our stand for God and Godly principles (like the boys were in the text), then we will come out victorious and God will give us double for our trouble. The chapter ends with the boys being promoted to a higher level and the same will for us!
Closing Confession: Father, I declare that You make every attack of the enemy turn on him. You are my very present help in the time of trouble. You deliver me from the hand of the enemy and bring me out unharmed. I receive my breakthrough – by faith – even before it manifests itself in my life. I praise You for it in advance. I am assured that the trial and proving of my faith will bring out my endurance, steadfastness and patience. When endurance, steadfastness and patience are done, I will be perfectly and fully developed in you. What the devil meant for evil, You will turn for my good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
