'Appreciating God's Love'
A) Refusal to worship King's Image
Dan 3:14-15 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"
These 3 Jewish youths Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who were high ranking government officials of King Nebuchadnezzar, were caught for not bowing down to the golden image.
The king gave them a second chance to bow down to the image otherwise they would be cast into the fiery furnace.
Dan 2:49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Strong Faith of these Youths
Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
They told the king that their God would deliver them from the fiery furnace. Even if He did not deliver them, they were glad that they had kept the faith and had pleased and loved the Almighty God.
Note - For the sake of their faith in keeping God's word, they took the risk of being sacked, made slaves again or killed in the fiery furnace, for not bowing down to worship the image of the king.
Brethren, do you have this faith of sacrificing your job, status, wealth and family when you are called to serve Him and keep His word?
B) Strong Faith of these Youths
Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
They told the king that their God would deliver them from the burning furnace. Even if He did not deliver them, they were glad that they had kept the faith and had not worship the golden image. That really angered the king.
Dan 3:19-20 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
*God's Presence in Deliverance
Dan 3:24-25 _Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." "Look!" he answered, " *I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.*"_
God was walking in the midst of these 3 faithful Jews, protecting and delivering them from the fiery heat.
*Note* - brethren, when we dare to stand on our faith in Him and His word, He will always be with us.
C) *God's Name was Glorified*
Dan 3:26-27 _Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and *they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected*, and the smell of fire was not on them._
Nothing is impossible with the Almighty God. Remember that He is the Creator of heaven and earth and everything in it. The physical laws, thermodynamics, forces, electromagnetic waves, atoms, cells, DNA and even spirits are created by Him.
For Him to protect, heal and deliver anyone is not a problem, but the problem is whether you are worthy enough for Him to heal or deliver you.
The sincerity in the faith of the youths, their zeal to keep His words and their willingness to face death pleased the Lord to deliver them. At their deliverance, God's Name was glorified when King Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed Yahweh, the God of the Jews, as the Almighty God and Creator.
Dan 3:29-30 _Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss *against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces*, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because *there is no other God who can deliver like this*." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon._
