In Daniel 3, once King Nebuchadnezzar realized that three Israelite men who he had tried to have executed in a furnace were still alive and walking around in it, he doesn’t just casually return home. This is an unexpected – and downright spectacular – event, and he is compelled to take action.
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Daniel 3:26-27 NIV
If we continue with the idea (from earlier articles looking at previous verses in this chapter) that Nebuchadnezzar was pitting his god (Marduk?) against the God of the Jewish people, the true God has demonstrated His power over Nebuchadnezzar’s so-called god. Nebuchadnezzar may have been angry – perhaps excessively so – when he ordered an execution, but he’s at least smart enough to recognize that the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is real and powerful. Nebuchadnezzar even acknowledges their God when calling them back out.
Now, maybe being able to walk directly with Jesus (or an angel) was pretty great, even if it was in an unusual venue (i.e., inside a blazing furnace). Do you wonder if the three Jewish men wanted to remain there, once they realized that God had saved them? I’m not sure, but apparently they politely obliged Nebuchadnezzar’s request and exited the furnace.
Those watching gather around them to learn more. Kind of like how the fire from God on Mount Carmel consumed everything – not just the sacrifice – after Elijah prayed (see 1 Kings 18:30-39), God doesn’t “just barely” save these three men. Their bonds were gone, but they and their clothing weren’t even singed, and they didn’t even smell like smoke, it seems. (Anyone who has come home after sitting around a campfire and been told to leave their coat outside and take a shower knows that the smell can really stick with you.)
In Daniel 3:28-30, we learn that King Nebuchadnezzar knows that he’s seen real power, and takes action. (Note that the king didn’t have to go back on his word, here. Those who violated the king’s command to worship the golden statue were indeed thrown into a furnace.) However, the king’s next steps not only include allowing them to live (i.e., not having them executed some other way), but he is also standing up for the powerful God that these three Jewish men already serve. It seems to me like he’s taking steps to keep from making himself an enemy of God. A God who can save men from otherwise-certain death is not one to be insulted any further.
Did you see in verse 28 that the king acknowledges the three men standing up for their faith, even when others expected it to cost them their lives? Observers can recognize when a person’s faith is strong enough to hold up under persecution or penalty.
As we consider the faith of these three men in Daniel 3, and the impact that they had on a foreign king who was angry enough to kill them, if you are a follower of Jesus with me, let’s ask ourselves whether we truly have confidence that God can save us, while still trusting Him even when He doesn’t rescue us in the way that we want.
If not, let’s consider why that might be. Do we not believe that God is real, powerful, loving, involved, and willing to intervene in our lives?
- If we don’t live like God is real, let’s spend some time getting to know Him and learning more about Him. We can talk with Him any time.
- If we don’t live like God is powerful, let’s remind ourselves what He has done in the past, what He continues to do today, and what He has promised to do in the future.
- If we don’t live like God is loving, let’s go back to see what He has done for us. We can look to the ultimate act of love that Jesus performed when He gave His life for us, but there are also countless other examples of God’s love.
- If we don’t live like God is involved, let’s take a closer look and see if He might be working in places where we have ignored His interaction with human beings (including us).
- If we don’t live like God is willing to work in our lives, let’s remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8).
Remember, if even a non-believing king realized the importance of taking action when he saw God at work, hopefully we too can realize that we would be unwise to ignore God and the evidence of His involvement around us. Let’s live as those who have seen God at work.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 16, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, June 16, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Esther & Daniel, by Mark Mangano. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 