Staying In the Flames

In this post, we will be ruminating on the experience of the three Hebrew boys. Try to place yourselves in the shoes of these great men of God or should we say, boys? Because they were just boys when they had to take a stand for God and face a gruelling excruciatingly painful death. Let’s read a few verses from this story just before we dive right in. 

Daniel 3:8-13

NIV

At this time some astrologers[a] came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,

They knew what they believed!

Firstly, it is easy I guess to understand and believe the word of God when you are in your comfort zone. Yes, it is. But these boys were not in their land anymore. They were slaves now in another country. They had just experienced war, death, loss and all the evil, pain and suffering that comes with the defeat of one nation by another. This is the point where many of us would already begin to doubt God. To ask God questions, to rebel and to question our faith in God or his power to save us. But not these three young men! They still believed and trusted God enough not only to keep their faith but to choose to obey him just as they would if they still hadn’t experienced so much pain. For many of us, the question should be asked, are we quick to throw away our knowledge and belief in God? In the first place, do we even know what God expects of us? Are we just living lives believing God has no standard and as far as it is convenient for us, we do what we like when we like and somehow God in heaven just has mercy on us? The Hebrew boys certainly didn’t think so. They knew that right was right and wrong was wrong.

They knew the power of God.

In their response to Nebuchadnezzar in verses 16 -18, we see 2 points. 

Daniel 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[b] from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Firstly, they knew and trusted that God could save them from the fiery flames. They didn’t know how but they were certain that God could. They knew that in an instance God could change the heart of the King or transport them to a place where they will be safe or by a mighty display of power quench the furnace or even strike the king with lightning. They knew the power of God could prevent evil from happening to them and so they said “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[b] from Your Majesty’s hand.”  Above and beyond that too, they knew the power of God to save them from the clutch of death through the final resurrection. So even if they died in those flames, that didn’t mean a miracle didn’t happen. You see the Hebrew boys knew that God was on their side and they trusted the outcome to him. So, they could also say “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” They had faith and complete trust in God to work out his will. We too should have that kind of faith. Faith that recognizes that God will do what is best. Our part is simply to trust and obey.

They stayed in the flames

The part of the story that plays the most in my mind is the scene in the fire. These men trusted God enough to walk the pathway that led to the flames and they also trusted God enough to stay in the flames. I imagine that if I were bound up and thrown into a fiery furnace, I would have my eyes shut tight praying for instant death. If by some miracle I didn’t die immediately I would not want to spend 1 extra minute in the flames. ‘Oh great, I didn’t get burnt. Thank you, Jesus’ would be my first thought. The next would be to run out of the furnace. If this was physically impossible you would definitely see me screaming to Nebuchadnezzar to open the furnace and let me out. These men of God though didn’t do that. They remained in the flames. They remained long enough to see and walk with Jesus. Nebuchadnezzar saw Jesus too. 

If they had been thrown in the flame, realized they weren’t being burnt and run straight out, this part of their experience would be missing. Do not be in such a hurry to leave the flames. God has a bigger plan for you than you can ever have for yourself. God is probably keeping you in the flames a little longer so others can see him walk with you. If the three Hebrew boys had run out of the flame, it would have still been a miracle, and it would still have made headlines but that was not the end of the miracle God had planned out. Patience in the flames gave the three Hebrew boys the experience of walking and talking with the God of the universe and it gave Nebuchadnezzar a view of God. You may have your expectations of how your trials should end, but when you trust God and wait on him you will experience much more than you could have ever thought or imagined.