Will We Remain Faithful in the Fire of Affliction?

O. #1980  "Will We Remain Faithful in the Fire of Affliction?"

July 12, 2021

Daniel 3-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

We have been studying about the three Hebrews who were in Babylon serving as officials in Nebuchadnezzar's empire. They had remained faithful servants of God along with their fiend Daniel. Now the three were facing a fiery furnace because of their obedience to their God. (Do not bow down thyself before idols nor serve them, found in Exodus 20:5)

The prideful Neb had made the golden giant idol and required all to bow down and worship it. By refusing to do so, anyone would be thrown into the fiery furnace, which would be made 7 times hotter. Those temperatures could have been from 1,500 degrees to 10,500 degrees. (Cremations are normally run at 1,800 degrees.) Now that is hot. The king's most mighty men in his army were called in to bind those three and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. He was angry and serious about this, wasn't he? Notice that his command was urgent. Urgent means to shear or cut close; to be severe.

Sounds like this action took place quickly and they were bound tightly in their clothes. Now ordinarily, their clothes would have immediately burned up in the flames, then their hair and body. But God...

The king must have been watching the whole episode.  

These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. (verse 23)

Those three faithful believers in God did not fight for their lives. No struggle or resistance was there that day, for they willingly accepted being thrown into the fire.

How do we react when thrown into a fire of testing? Do we cry, ask why it was happening to us, resist, turn our back and quite following Jesus, not deserving this? Or do we pray and ask for strength to continue in the fire of affliction? God placed us precisely where we are for a purpose. Are we faithful to Him to fulfill it or do we walk away, quitting?

What if Jesus had quit when the first nail or whip was used on Him? He could have call ten thousand angels to rescue Him that day, but loved us so much that He chose to endure and stay on the cross for us. Have you thanked Jesus for taking our place as payment for our sins?

LET IT GROW

What happened to the mighty men who threw the guys into the furnace? Verse 22 tells us the flames of the fire killed them. That backfired on the king, didn't it? :) 

How did the king react to what happened next?

• Neb was astonied, which refers to amazed; take alarm. He was astonished; couldn't believe his what his eyes saw.
• He rose up in haste and asked his counselors, "Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" And they answered, "True." (verse 24)
• Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (verse 25)
• Neb went near the mouth of the furnace and spoke to the three, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth and come hither. (verse 26)

Look what happened then: The three stepped out of the fire. Neb's officials crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair of their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched, nor even smell of smoke! (verse 27)

The power of God was seen in proof and smelled-no blisters, scorching, burning, hair singed, and no smell of smoke.

If we have ever been around something that has burned, whether a brush pile, fire pit for roasting meat, or a house, we do not forget the smell of smoke that lingers on our clothing. And evidence of our presence there lingers.

God performed a miracle that day! Jesus walked and must have been talking with those three faithful guys. What an experience for them! They found liberty, walking about as thou they were in a palace, not a furnace. Only the ropes that bound them were affected by the fire. Indeed, God was able and willing to deliver His faithful servants. What a public witness. There was no doubt that God is Supreme and Almighty, for He had three witnesses, living miracles!

Are we believers in Jesus a living miracles of His salvation and redemption?

LET IT GO

What do we need to let go so we can follow Jesus in the fire of affliction?

Jesus knows what we need and when we need it. Because He is faithful, we can be faithful and endure our fire. But if He chooses not to rescue us, will we remain faithful to the end?