DANIEL 3:25

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were determined not to bow and God delivered. They powerfully declared and testified “. . . Our God whom we served is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O King” (Daniel 3:17). Then they hastened to make their position crystal clear by stating in the most vivid way “But if not . . .” (v18). We unequivocally know that He can deliver but just in case He chooses not to, let it be made perfectly clear that our minds are made up, we will not bow. “. . . we will neither serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image, which thou has set up” (v.18). For them, it was a no brainer. It required almost no thought.

Maybe this is what so infuriated Nebuchadnezzar, the King. His nonsensical edict and executive order were challenged by these three seemingly insignificant exiled immigrants whom he really liked at first, but now despised with great intensity. In verse 19, this is strongly highlighted – “Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated (v.19). In the NIV it says that the King was furious and his attitude toward them changed (v.19 )NIV).

When some people really know what we believe and what we stand for, their attitude toward us may change. We stick out like sore thumbs. It was so clear to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that they were not sent to be liked, but to stand tall as true servants and representatives of the living God. Their minds were made up, fully persuaded whether God miraculously delivered them or not. They were fully resigned to his will. They were determined to obey the word of God above the the word of the King. No threat of death, nor intensity of fire intimidated them. They simply said we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter (V.16). Our God whom we serve is able to deliver, but even if He does not!

Church, may I use this inspired script to speak a word into your spirits today. Observe how the Almighty does not deliver them from the fire, but in the fire. Somehow as we dare to take a stand for Him, He will stand for us and with us. As they were cruelly and mercilessly thrown into the fire, we are informed that the King leaped to his feet in amazement declaring to his advisers “Did we not throw three men bound into the midst of the fire. . .? (v.24). In greatest amazement he had to testify, “. . . 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” (v.25).

May this concept and imagery of the fourth man never leave our minds and consciousness. Saints, we are never alone, even in the most blistering, fiery trials and tests. He came into the furnace and supernaturally adjusted the temperature to deliver his servants, to demonstrate His sovereignty. Let us never forget that He is always “in the midst” as we stand tall and surefooted for Him. We must never bow to satisfy the whims and fantasies of any secular world leader or decree. We solemnly bow only to Jesus our supreme ruler and Lord – the fourth man!