The Death of Tragedy

My absolute favorite story in the Old Testament is about these three Israelites, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were taken as prisoners to Babylon when they were teenagers, and how God was with them every step of the way.

King Nebuchadnezzar built a humungous gold statue of himself and declared that everyone in his kingdom was to bow down and worship it. He threatened that anyone who did not would be “thrown into a blazing furnace†(Daniel 3:6). Yet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down. When they were brought before the king, I love how they declared their faith in God: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up†(Daniel 3:17-18).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed that God would deliver them. Although they didn’t know how they could survive the fire, they trusted in God’s ability. And they declared that even if God did not spare their lives, they would STILL serve and worship Him alone. What awesome determination! Because God had always been faithful to them, they trusted Him and were loyal to Him above all others.

The king was furious and “ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual†(Daniel 3:19). When they were thrown into the furnace, the soldiers who took them were killed by the fire, but the king said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods†(Daniel 3:25). And when the three Israelites came out of the furnace, they didn’t even smell of smoke! Who was the fourth person who had been walking around in the furnace with them? Some scholars believe it was Jesus!

I love how the ropes that bound the three friends were burnt off. When we follow Jesus, our Rescuer, the sins that bind us are destroyed, burnt off, and we become freer to serve the God who goes with us THROUGH the fire! • Sharon J. Morris

• How might God be inviting you to follow Him today?

“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has…rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.†Daniel 3:28b (NIV)

Read Verses:

Ps.13|Col.1.15-Col.1.23|Rev.22.1-Rev.22.5|Isa.61.1