But If Not...

Today we’re going to talk a little about the story of the 3 Hebrews that Daniel knew who got tossed into the fiery furnace in Daniel chapter 3.

First of all, King Nebuchadnezzar had made a huge statue – some records say 90 feet or 9 stories high, and it was all gold. He was very proud of it and so he called a meeting to which everyone who was anyone was told that whenever this music played, they had to fall down & worship his golden idol, or they would be tossed into the fiery furnace.

Soon after, some of the Chaldeans came before the King and accused some of the Jews. Apparently there were some Jewish people in the land who refused to go along with the high ruler’s idol worshiping agenda.

Daniel 3:12 KJV - There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel 3:13 KJV - Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

To understand his strong reaction, you should know that not only was Nebuchadnezzar a highly respected military conqueror, but at this time, he was one of the MOST POWERFUL RULERS IN THE WORLD. He was used to being OBEYED. Period.

Daniel 3:14 KJV - Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

Daniel 3:15 KJV - Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Daniel 3:16 KJV - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Daniel 3:17 KJV - If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Daniel 3:18 KJV - But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Job 13:15 KJV

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Now let’s think about something for a minute. How did these men get faith SO strong that they didn’t even waver in the face of death??? They KNEW God could deliver them and they were willing to stake their life on it! This was before the time of Jesus and all the miracles HE did – they were back in the days of the law. They would have heard the stories of Moses and the Red Sea miracles, but….that’s really STRONG faith, yall!

Daniel 3:19 KJV - 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.

It should be noted here that this was not a small oven like you make your dinner in. This was a huge industrial oven like they made bricks and smelted metals in!

Daniel 3:20 KJV - And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:21 KJV - Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:22 KJV - Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 3:23 KJV - And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:24 KJV - Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

Daniel 3:25 KJV - He answered and said, 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.