Author: Pastor Andrew Farland
Over the next four days, we will explore one of my favourite stories in the Bible. It tells of three teenagers who bravely stood up for their faith! When facing death. The story teaches us about four incredible promises of God, revealed through their unwavering faith and God’s relationship with them.
These promises are timeless after you hear them, and you’ll discover them throughout the Bible.
In Daniel, Chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made a power play for the loyalty of his civilians. He built a golden statue and placed it in the middle of town. Whenever people heard the sound of the flute! The king said everyone was required to bow down and worship the idol. Failure to bow down to the statute would be an automatic death sentence.
The three teenagers, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, at the first sound of the flute, decided not to bow. They were the only ones in town who stood up to the king at the risk of capital punishment. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious and ordered the boys to be burned in a furnace that turned up seven times hotter than normal.
What happens in the furnace is one of the most incredible instances in the Bible. In front of the entire town, the king, and his royal staff, the teenagers danced around inside the furnace without a care in the world!! The fire didn’t touch them. An even more unbelievable fact was that the king exclaimed, “Didn’t we tie those men up? I see four men, and one of them looks like the God!”
Wow!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood up for their faith in God and accepted their punishment. Now God had himself appeared there in the fire with them.
“The story of these faithful young men demonstrates the promise that God is always with you. He remains by your side amid challenges and difficulties and will guide you through them. You can trust that He will be with you every step of the way, even when you emerge from the fire.” It’s spelt out all over the Bible. Joshua 1:9 tells us not to be afraid. “I am with you. Be strong and courageous.” Psalm 23 says that through the valley of the shadow of death, “God is with me.”
Write these words down or seal them in your memory – God is with you. Remember this promise during times of trouble and find peace from your Creator.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
