Trust, a furnace, and Daniel chapter 3

I'm always inspired by the stories of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and their courage and faithfulness even while living in a land full of opposition.

 

One example in particular really stands out to me:

 

Daniel 3:17-18

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us and bring us out alive. He will save us from your powerful hand, O king.

But even if He doesn't, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."

 

For one thing, it takes a ton of courage to say something like that to the most powerful king in the world at the time. Especially when he's furious with you.  But what really gets me are those five words near the end: But even if He doesn't...

 

They thought they were going to die.

 

Think about that. They didn't know the end of the story. They couldn't turn to Daniel 3 in their Bibles and say, "Oh, it'll be fine. God's definitely going to protect us, and when we come out of that furnace, we're not even going to smell like smoke. So therefore, Mr. threatening king, we have something to tell you..."  No, most of the Bible hadn't even been written yet, the first five books of the Old Testament.

 

They realized that, while God certainly could work a miracle and give them a chance to escape, or even bring them safely through the fire, He didn't have to. They knew very well that it might not be in His sovereign will to protect them in this, and they were ok with that.  They were going to be faithful even if it meant being burned alive.

 

So, they were tied (by some of the king's strongest men—interesting note...) and thrown into the furnace heated seven times more than usual. (yikes! There was a "usual"? I'm sure that "usual" was nothing like a warm bathtub or a nice little campfire...) I mean, that fire was so hot that just the opening of the furnace doors killed the guards opening them! And you thought it was hot work opening the oven door...  And not just pushed in, but thrown, meaning they had to fall a long way into the fire.

 

I wonder what was going through their minds as they were being thrown in?  Maybe nothing—just terror. I'd guess they were praying. Hard.

 

But the other thing that strikes me is that forth Person who met them in the fire. Who was that? An angel? Maybe... But many scholars believe it was Jesus, the pre-incarnate Christ.  Wow.  I'll bet Nebuchadnezzar was way more than just surprised, shocked, or even astonished.

 

Then the king (who had obviously come just to watch the punishment of three traitors) yelled to them to come out, and and not even one hair on their heads had been singed.  The Most High God had shown Himself to His faithful children, and a stubborn king, who had to admit that "...No other god can save in this way."