Obedience to God Came First

In obedience to their God, they were willing to lay their lives on the line, defying the decree of the most powerful ruler in the world.

There was nothing for Nebuchadnezzar to do but enforce the penalty. He was playing for exceedingly high stakes, an enduring universal empire, and he was being defied by three of his most trusted governors. This was open rebellion, witnessed by all, and must be ruthlessly dealt with. Leniency would cause the rebellion to spread.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar filled with fury, and the form of his countenance was changed, because of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And he spake and ordered that they should heat the furnace thoroughly seven times more than it was wont to be heated.”

The use of a furnace to inflict punishment was a custom borrowed from the Persians. We know from other records that Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace was built like a brick kiln. It was about forty feet tall and urn-shaped. It had a large arched opening at one side, near the bottom, through which it was stoked, and which also served as an observation window. It tapered to a smaller opening at the top, providing draft to the flame, and through which the victim was inserted. It was built against a hillside to provide greater concentration of heat and to make the top opening easily accessible by a ramp up the hillside. If fueled by naphtha, which was plentiful in that region, and might have been used in this case, the heat of such a furnace could reach thousands of degrees. We can imagine how hot the furnace became when the king ordered it heated seven times more than normal.

Since by this time all would have heard of the rebellious Jews, the king would want all to witness their punishment, to impress upon them the futility of opposing the king’s will. So the representatives of every nation and tongue of the empire would again assemble at the king’s order, this time facing the furnace. Stocked beyond its utmost capacity, the flames of the furnace probably leaped a hundred feet in the air, illuminating the monstrous image with a flickering, unnatural light, making it appear to live and dance. The king gave an order and the strongest men in the army were summoned. They were giants compared with the three young Hebrews, and could lift them with ease. They seized the young men and trussed them up, fully clothed, with strong ropes. Then, at a signal, they raced up the path on the hillside to the top of the furnace, using the Hebrews as shield against the intolerable heat. As they dropped Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the furnace, these mighty men of the army were, for a moment, enveloped in the flame which soared skyward. They breathed in the flame, their lungs scorched and shriveled, and they died instantly.

“Now, because the king’s command was so urgent, and the furnace exceedingly heated, the flame of the fire slew those men that carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”

Because of the brilliant white heat of the furnace, every detail of its interior was vividly visible through the arched window. Watching intently, the king saw the three young men drop, one after another, into the flames. Then the king saw an astonishing thing which made him rise bolt upright from his chair! He had seen men burn before. In such heat they should be reduced to ashes in seconds. Now he not only saw the three walking alive and unbound in the furnace, he saw another person there walking with them and having such a glorious brightness that it shone even above the incandescent glow of the furnace!

“Then was king Nebuchadnezzar astonished, and he rose up in haste, and said unto his counsellors, Did we not cast three men, bound, into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, Certainly, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men, unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and there is no injury on them; and the appearance of the fourth is like the Son of God!”

The great golden image was forgotten. The grandiose plan for an eternal Babylonian empire was forgotten. The dignity of the kingly office was set aside. Nebuchadnezzar ran to the furnace, approaching as close as the heat would permit. As he did so the fourth person disappeared.

“Then came Nebuchadnezzar near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and said, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, step forth, and come hither. Then stepped Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego forth out of the midst of the fire. And the lieutenants, superintendents and governors, and the king’s counsellors, being assembled together saw these men over whose bodies the fire had had no power, and the hair of whose head was not singed, whose mantles were not changed and on whom there was not come the smell of fire. Then spake Nebuchadnezzar and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that had trusted in him.”

Without a doubt he caused the great golden image which was no longer of any use, to be broken to pieces. This is implied by these words from Jeremiah:

“Declare ye among the nations, and publish and set up a standard. Publish, and conceal not. Say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.” Jeremiah 50:2

“And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up. And the nations shall not flow together any more unto him; yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.” Jeremiah 51:44

Lessons for Us

This fascinating account of the three Hebrews and the fiery furnace was recorded for the benefit of the Lord’s people as was all inspired scripture. But it is not necessary that we determine this incident to have been a type and look for every feature of it to have an equivalent and connected fulfillment. Without so regarding the account, let us now consider some of the valuable and inspiring lessons it was intended to teach us.

First, let us remember that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were only about fourteen years old when brought to Babylon as captives. They quickly absorbed higher education and at the time of their refusal to worship the image they were young men of thirty-five occupying important positions. What was their secret? They had been reared by godly parents and had never departed from the God of their fathers. In spite of their exalted positions in a heathen government and the temptations inherent in their daily contact with corrupt and crooked idolaters, they strictly adhered to the laws of their God. There was quite a contrast between them and their associates. They stood out as shining examples of good for all to see. Likewise we must maintain Christian integrity in an adverse environment, being:

“Blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life.” Philippians 2:15,16

We also see in this experience that depth of consecration and godliness is not necessarily a matter of one’s age. The young in Christ often overtake and excel in Christ-likeness those who have been much longer in the narrow way. To the young in the Lord I would say in the language of Paul:

“Let no one despise thy youth; but become a pattern of the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12, Diaglott

Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden image and sought to unify all the families of the earth into one lasting empire under his rule. This aptly illustrates Satan’s ambition and constant aim. Just as Nebuchadnezzar coveted the promised kingdom of God and sought to establish it under his own rule, Satan coveted the heavenly Father’s rulership, and sought to usurp it:

“Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13,14

Satan’s Attempt at Unification

Very early in human history, Satan attempted the unification and cementing together of the families of the earth by the erecting of a structure to provide a rallying point. He first suggested this to the minds of men:

“And they said, Go to, let us build us . . . a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4

The scheme failed. I am sure it is not a coincidence that the name of that place was called “Babel.” From this name would be derived the name “Babylon,” where Satan would make another similar attempt, as we have seen.

He made the same attempt to usurp God’s kingdom with every succeeding universal empire: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Each one failed. He tried it when he sought to obtain Jesus’ cooperation and worship by his temptation in the wilderness. Again failure. He almost succeeded with the great Papal system. For a while this monstrosity held absolute sway, crowning and uncrowning kings. As with Nebuchadnezzar, it compelled worship and obedience by the most cruel and savage means. Thousands of so- called “heretics” were tortured to death and some literally burned. This attempt too, eventually failed. Then came the unsuccessful League of –Nations followed by the United Nations, which isn’t doing too well either. Now we have something else, another image of gold. It is the image of ecumenism. The cry is:

“Why can’t we all have one religion? Why have so many church organizations? Let us fuse them, and melt them all into one glorious object we can all bow to. We must present a united front to Communism one united image. Believe what you please privately, but let the public image be one, beautiful golden image.” This is Satan’s latest attempt to unify and consolidate his empire. This too shall fail.

The record nowhere mentions that the three young Hebrews prayed to God when faced with death in the fiery furnace, but we know that they did. How do we know? They claimed and obtained one of the precious promises God had given Israel:

“Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel. Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee; for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isaiah 43:1-3

I imagine that after their refusal to bow before the image they went to their apartment knowing full well that the king’s officers would be there in minutes. I picture them as kneeling before a window open toward Jerusalem, with hands joined, praying to the God of their Fathers. Taking turns they would express their devotion to God, and their determination to keep his statutes at all cost, even unto death.

Then they probably said something like this:

“O Lord, Thou hast promised thy people, through thy prophet Isaiah: `When thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’ We claim this promise, if it be thy will. But if our time to die has come, well and good; and we will await thy great resurrection.”

It may have been at this point that there was a loud knock at the door. “Open, in the name of the king!” They went with the officers and faced the enraged Nebuchadnezzar calmly and serenely because they had placed the matter completely in God’s hands. That is why they were able to say to the monarch of the world: “Our God is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us. But whether he does or not, we still will not worship your god, nor bow to the golden image.”

This precious promise from Isaiah is also ours. We too are the Israel of God. We are spiritual Israel. When he says, “I have –redeemed thee,” it refers to the precious blood of Christ first applied on behalf of the church. “Thou art mine,” he says. We also read:

“They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them.” Malachi 3:17

God Is With Us in Our Trials

God is speaking to us. He has promised to be with us when we pass through the “waters.” This refers to the present time:

“Upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear.” Luke 21:25,26

He has promised to be with us in fire also. This does not just refer to the fiery time of trouble through which the world is passing. Each of us individually have “fiery furnace” experiences during our walk in the narrow way, but he has promised: “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the fire kindle upon thee.” The Lord knows what each one of us is going through. If he permits fiery trials, it is for our good, for our testing. As Job said:

“But he knoweth the way that I take. When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

Peter expresses it:

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7

As the three young Hebrews were not alone in the furnace, neither are we. How alone they must have felt when they were the only ones standing, surround by thousands who were prostrate before the image. How alone they must have felt when facing a hostile king and court. How alone and helpless when seized and ignominiously trussed up by rough and powerful men. How terribly alone when they were flung into the flames! Ah, but as they dropped into the fire a wonderful thing happened. Their cords instantly burned and fell away from them. They were free! We know this because they were seen walking about in the furnace. Their cords burned but not one hair of their heads was singed! Most wonderful of all, they were no longer alone. A glorious being, luminous even above the flame of fire, greeted them, embraced them, and walked with them. I have no doubt that this was “the bright and morning star,” the Logos, the personal representative of the great Jehovah God, the one of whom it was prophesied, “The people which sat in darkness saw a great light.” (Isaiah 9:1,2; Matthew 4:16) He who is now our Lord Jesus Christ will walk with us too in our fiery furnace. In his company we will receive no injury. No hurt will jeopardize our eternal welfare.

Only our cords will be burned away, only the dross will be removed. We shall come forth as gold!

We read of the three Hebrews that in the burning fiery furnace their mantles were not changed nor was even the smell of fire upon them. So with us. As we walk amid the world’s time of trouble and as we have our personal fiery experiences, our mantles are not affected.

The fire does not kindle upon us. The new creature is not vitally touched. We still retain the mantle or covering of the robe of Christ’s righteousness. This can never be taken away from the faithful. When released from the furnace of trials, there will be no burns, no scars, no smell of smoke, no evidence of contamination.

It is significant that the mighty men who threw the men of God into the furnace died in the act. One cannot help but think of the words of Jesus:

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come; but woe unto him through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Luke 17:1,2

“And whosoever shall offend [Diaglott: ensnare] one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” Mark 9:42

After their fiery furnace experience we read that the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the kingdom. We too, will be promoted. When our suffering with Christ is finished, our Great King will say to us, “Come up higher!”

The three young Hebrews learned a lesson they would never forget, and they taught us a lesson we should never forget. They believed God absolutely, obeyed him at all cost, and relied on him implicitly. Because of their supreme faith, they received a miraculous deliverance. They lived in faith all their lives, and they finally died in faith. It was of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that Paul wrote in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews as he spoke of some “who, through faith . . . quenched the violence of fire.” Because of their faith, they will receive “a better resurrection.” But we, the body of Christ, are assured that God has provided even better things for us! If faithful, we will appoint them to be “princes in all the earth!” (Hebrews 11:40)

We thank God for these inspiring examples of faith and integrity, and of his great power to preserve his people in every situation. May the Son of God walk with us in our fiery furnace so that ultimately we come forth as gold!