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The Fiery Furnace: Daniel 3
Among those taken with Daniel to Babylon were three other youths from Judah: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. We know them better by their names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These three demonstrated their great faith in God during a very difficult time.
Nebuchadnezzar made a very large idol of gold and set it up for the people to bow down to. He expected that everyone would worship this idol at its dedication ceremony. He commanded that when they heard the sound of the musical instruments, they were to fall down and worship the idol. The punishment for those who would not bow down and worship was that they would “immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.”
When the music played, all the people bowed down to the image. That is, all people bowed down except the three youths from Judah (perhaps Daniel was not in the province at this time). Some of the Chaldeans came to the king and told him that these three were disobeying his orders, and so they should be cast into the furnace of fire.
Nebuchadnezzar was enraged when he heard this. He ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego be brought before him. He gave them another chance to bow down to the idol, but they refused, saying that they did not need to answer to him in this matter. They expressed their faith in God, who could deliver them from the plans of the king if he so chose. Regardless, they would not bow down, for they knew it was against the will of God. The king was filled with wrath, and had the heat to the furnace turned up. They threw the three men into the furnace. To the king’s surprise, they were unharmed by the fire. God indeed delivered them.
What a great lesson of faith for all of us, when we are tempted to give in to the wishes of the world.
Discussion
1. Why wouldn’t the three young men bow down to the idol made by the king?
2. Why do you think the king was so angry about this?
3. How did the three respond to the king? Why did they appear so confident?
4. Discuss various lessons we can learn from this account.