Our God who Walks Beside us
(NCV) Daniel 3:20 Then he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and thrown into the blazing furnace while still wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes. 22 The king’s command was very strict, and the furnace was made so hot that the flames killed the strong soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace. 23 Firmly tied, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was so surprised that he jumped to his feet. He asked the men who advised him, “Didn’t we tie up only three men and throw them into the fire?”
They answered, “Yes, O king.”
25 The king said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire. They are not tied up, and they are not burned. The fourth man looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went to the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out! Servants of the Most High God, come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
We all learned the story of the three Hebrew boys and the fiery furnace. The Chaldeans had conquered Jerusalem and taken some of the best and the brightest young men to become assimilated into the Babylonian society. Among these young men were Hananiah whose Babylonian name was Shadrach, Mishael’s was Meshach, and Azariah’s was Abednego.
When I was a child, I devised a plan to save myself if I were ever in the same predicament as the Hebrew boys. My idea was to do whatever the Hebrew captives were expected to do, bowing down before false gods, eating food offered to idols, but in my heart I would remain true to my God. Problem solved!
Except, I could never divide my loyalties like that—God requires all of my worship. The young Hebrews did not know whether God would deliver them from the flames or walk beside them in the fire. They only knew that their allegiance was to the God of their fathers. How can we do any less?
May we cling to the faith that has sustained us, regardless of our circumstances, knowing that God is our Protector. Jesus told us in Matt 10:28 not to fear those who can kill the body, but instead fear the One who can destroy the body and the soul.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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