I’m in the midst of a study of Daniel right now. I’m learning so much by taking almost each verse apart and digging deep. We finished looking at one of my favorite stories in the Bible.
The scene is set in Babylon and ruled by an egocentric king. The king builds a statue that symbolizes himself and demands his advisors, governors, etc to worship it. Three men took a stand and said no. They would not bow down to the statue and worship it. They were Godly men who knew who God was and weren’t about to turn against Him. They knew the consequences that were clearly displayed before them. They could probably feel the heat from the furnace they were about to be thrown in when they gave their answer of, “No.” Into the furnace they were thrown with their hands tied behind their backs.
Three men. The king had three men thrown into the fire. If you can handle the powerful message within one verse…get ready. Here it comes.
“Look, Nebuchadnezzar shouted. I see four men, unbound and walking around in the fire unharmed! And the forth looks like a god!” Daniel 3:25
Have you been through any fires lately? Are you going through one now? Check out Isaiah 43: 2-3. Notice we are told “When” we go through trials (not “if”) He will be with us. When the King Nebuchadnezzar saw the forth man walking in the fire, even he saw it was Him! The Lord brought the men through the fire and the only thing burned were their ropes that tied their hands together. Not only did He save them, He took away their bondage.
Going through a recent difficult time, I imagined God sitting up on high and looking down at me. I mean in the way of a Father lovingly looking down at His child. I did feel He was allowing me to go through the season for a reason, and I was accepting that. However, this old story that I’d first heard as a child suddenly had new meaning. Why would the creator of the universe come down from the glory of Heaven to walk through a fire with me? Because He said He will..every time.. and He never lies.
Powerful.
