Through the Fire

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, ‘Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?’ They answered and said to the king, ‘True, O king.’ He answered and said, ‘But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.’" 

—Daniel 3:24-25

The story of Daniel’s three friends is an encouraging one for weary believers. If you remember the story, or simply are unfamiliar, allow me to fill you in. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was a pretty vain guy. He loved himself so much that he had a large golden image made of himself and decreed that all of his kingdom was to fall down and worship it whenever they heard specific music playing. The decree also stated that if anyone refused to bow down and worship they were to be cast into the fiery furnace, where they would be burned alive (Daniel 3:6).

One day, some Chaldeans came accusing three Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, of failing to worship the image. Nebuchadnezzar quickly summoned the three men, questioning them as to whether or not it was true while laying forth the consequences of their choice if they maintained their stance. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded,

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up”—Daniel 3:16-18.

What courage! They refused to compromise under penalty of death! And what happened? Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fire. Angered at their devotion and refusal to follow his command, he has the furnace made seven times hotter than normal. Then he has them bound and thrown in. It was so incredibly hot that the fire killed the men who threw them in!

And it is here we come to our verse for the day. After the three men were thrown into the fire, King Nebuchadnezzar stood up quickly, looking into the furnace questioning his servants, “Did we not cast three men into the fire?” They confirmed his question. But he replied, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Who was the fourth figure? It could have been an angel, as Nebuchadnezzar thought it was (Daniel 3:28), but I believe it was God Himself, the pre-incarnate Christ. Which is why Nebuchadnezzar said he looked like a “son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25). It was Christ Himself in the fire! God did preserve and deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the flames of the fire that day. And if God can deliver them from the fiery furnace then He can surely deliver us in times of trial!

God may or may not deliver us from our trials and tribulations, but no matter what happens, He will go through it with us. My brother or sister, know that God goes with you through the fire. He may deliver you, or He may not, but whatever the case, He will be with you. He will hold you up and give you the grace you need to bear up in your situation! Take courage, beloved! And know that God goes with you through the fire! Amen.