They were four boys. Three of them were followers and enjoyed being in the background. They were intercessors. When the one who had been chosen to defy the ruling of the king took the stage, he turned to them to stand beside him to seek their God.
- He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.[1]
Privileged, their birthright had been heralded to them since before they were born. They were the chosen, but something had gone wrong. Now, they were in an strange land, living among strange people, in a strange culture full of strange customs and morals. Yet, their knowledge of the one true God caused them to limit their indulgence within their new homeland.
- Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[2]
They were open-minded. Many of their people had gathered together to form alliances to defy their deportation. These four gathered together to affirm God was still among them. So, being chosen out of many who were deported, they had the chance to learn the language and study the culture of this pagan land. That they were chosen was not seen by them as harassment; instead they saw it as God's intervention in their lives, and they humbled themselves under his mighty hand.
- This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.[3]
They were humble. They were wise enough and did not point the finger at their God and blame him for their plight. They saw their mistakes and were not afraid to bow down and repent as they sought forgiveness for their own stubbornness and the stubbornness of their people.
Destined to come on the scene of life for a short time only, three of these boys, who had been captured and taken to a strange land, under the orders of a king, would write themselves down in the book of life, better known as the Bible.
Can't you see them?
Due to their intercessory support for their best friend they were rewarded jobs as administrators in the kingdom of Babylon. Not bad, for the prayer intercession they had done, the three thought. Prayer does change things. Their friend had not forgotten them; he had recommended them to the king, and they rejoiced in their promotions.
- Would you have not done the same?
2. Isn't it true that promotions, like any other magnificent event in our lives, blind us to the challenges that lie before us?
3. Could it be that when we reach a peak, we forget about the valleys below?
The three did an outstanding job. They were the best administrators in the land, and the king sat back and relaxed as he saw his return on invest rise steadily. "Wow!" He must have thought, as he gloated in his success.
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The difficulty in any profession is not the tasks and responsibilities that come with it. It is working with or for people. Everyone wants to please his boss and be considered, as one of his best people. The challenge comes when the boss takes a dangerous detour and goes his own way. What do you do then?
- Do you tag along because everyone else is doing it?
- Do you take a stand and lose your job, which will endanger your lively hood?
- Do you close your eyes and look away, pleading some kind of appointment or illness for lack of courage?
The day came when the three administrators would be put to the test. Their loyal king who thought they were the greatest administrators of all decided he wanted to celebrate the success of his hands. Building a golden image ninety feet high and nine feet wide, he instructed all of the officials working in his kingdom to come to the dedication and give patronage to his image.
The orchestra stood ready to play their hymnal to the king; the horns were ready to blow; the harp ready to play it melodious sound, and the pipes were ready to blast out in proclamation: "Bow down all you people bow down. Bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image!"
Can't you see it people?
Thousands bow down worshipping and giving homage to the golden image. The crowd was so large that the king could not see if everyone had done as he had ordered. In such crowds, though, there is always someone watching who would like to see you moved out of the way so they can shine in your spot.
It was the astrologers who approached the king. The three had been a thorn in their eyes for months. Blinded by jealousy, it was now payback time. The cunningness of the astrologers far outweighed the intelligence of the king. They felt threatened by the three men and went directly to the king to announce some people were not doing as he directed.
- Have you ever noticed that your decision to do the right thing will cause you to enter into the fires of life?
2. Have you ever trusted some people only to be betrayed?
3. Have you ever reached out to others and experienced the heat flames of their rejection?
As the king heard the report from the astrologers, he thought, at first, he had not heard correctly. So he called the three before him. They got a personal audience before the king.
"Boys," he said. "I heard that you are not bowing down to my image. Is that correct?"
Before they could answer he added, "Now listen here. I'm going to give you boys one more chance. Now when you all hear the music, I want you fall flat on your faces like all the rest and pay homage to my image, Okay? Did you understand what I have said? And boys don't think that you'll get away with not bowing down. It is either bow down, or I will throw you into the furnace of fire. So tell me now, which do you prefer, life with me, or death by fire? It's up to you!"
The Bible does not say which one was the spokesman. I believe all three, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, had something say.
Maybe, it started out with Shadrach saying, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter."[4]
I can hear Meschach as he continued on, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King." [5]
By this time Abednego could not keep still any longer, and he jumped up and down before Nebuchadnezzar and spoke out like the trumpets of Babylon, " But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."[6]
What a testimony! They threw the ball right back into the king's court and the king, furious at their impudence, ordered his people to make the furnace seven times hotter than it was.
Can't you see them people as the three approached the furnace?
Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego on the way to the furnace surrounded by guards who were more fearful than they were. I don't believe they were scared either. They knew the chances of coming out alive were zero to one hundred, either way, they would win. If they were burned they would see Moses and Elijah, if not, then they would see Nebuchadnezzar again. Maybe, just maybe, they were dancing, thinking they were going to see the King of kings and LORD of Lords.
The fire was so hot the guards died, while throwing them in. The arrogance and pride of a king had caused the guards their lives. Proud of his act of defiance, Nebuchadnezzar walked over to the furnace door and looked through the glass, which was lodged in the door.
Suddenly his heart stopped beating. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
With his right hand, he counted out the people he saw on his fingers:
One – he looks like Shadrach
Two – the second person is Meschach
Three- and the third is unquestionably Abednego.
But who is the fourth man?
- "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" Nebuchadnezzar said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."[7]
Three men stood the test by refusing to do what everyone else was doing. There are times when we have to stand firm in our faith and stand alone.
Times, when a nod of the head is not convincing enough,
Times, when keeping silent is not the answer,
Times, when the solution to your problem is to embrace the fire.
1. What are you facing right now?
2. Is the problem causing you to stand out among others and walk the road alone?
3. Are you being tempted to do what everyone else is doing?
4. Are you losing sleep during the midnight hours thinking, trying to figure out the answer?
Rest assured, you are not alone. The burning hot fires of life can only kill those who do not have faith. So, hold on. I know what I am talking about, because I am out there with you.
The victory comes when we endure to the end. So enter the fire and keep walking. Walk around, while it flares up, if you have to, but don't get out of it, until the fourth person shows up and cools your brows. He will, you know. So, until he comes, hold on and keep walking.
It's up to you!
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god, except their own God.[8]
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
[1] Daniel 2:18, The Holy Bible, The New International Version, (1984 Edition) ZONDERVAN
[2] Daniel 1:3, The Holy Bible, The New International Version, (1984 Edition) ZONDERVAN
[3] Jeremiah 29:5-7, The Holy Bible, The New International Version, (1984 Edition) ZONDERVAN
[4] Daniel 3:16, The Holy Bible, The New International Version (1984 Edition)
ZONDERVAN
[5] Daniel 3:17, The Holy Bible, The New International Version (1984 Edition)
ZONDERVAN
[6] Daniel 3:18, The Holy Bible, The New International Version, (1984 Edition), ZONDERVAN
[7] Daniel 3:24-25, The Holy Bible, The New International Version, (1984 Edition), ZONDERVAN
[8] Daniel 3:28, The Holy Bible, The New International Version (1984 Edition), ZONDERVAN
