His Presence In The Fire
Welcome, ☺️
I’m glad you’re here. I was so blessed as I reread this story in Daniel three recently. Open your Bible and join me. I pray you will be encouraged.
“Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace… “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God… Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire… and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.” Daniel 3:21, 25, 27
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to fall down and worship the gold idol King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. These men, faithful to the true God, knew the consequences but chose to obey. Of course, their disobedience was noticed by others. Our actions are always noticed by God and may also be noticed by those around us.
Satan, the accuser of God’s people, would not miss a moment to get involved here. The proud King, in a rage, called these three men before him and issued the death warrant: “If you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” He cast doubt on their God and challenged Him.
Did these men try to run away or hide? When brought into the presence of the great King, were they fearful or cowering? No.
“But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For in that hour it will be given to you what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” — Matthew 10:19, 20
“…Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” — Psalm 27:1
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” — Isaiah 26:3
King Nebuchadnezzar commanded that the furnace be made seven times hotter than usual. And the King’s mighty men of valor, after binding Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in their clothes, threw them into the fire, and were themselves burned and died in the flames.
But God.
The Lord was with them, in the midst of the fire, walking by their side.
He could have saved them from this frightful trial at the outset, at any time.
But His way was to give them a precious gift: His presence during the trial.
They knew God. They worshipped Him and prayed to Him daily. But it was in the fiery trial that He revealed Himself to them in a way they had never experienced before.
What a blessing!
Sometimes God doesn't keep us from the fire. Sometimes, in His wisdom, He allows us to walk through it. But His faithfulness means we never walk through it alone.
The Lord says to us:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.” — Isaiah 43:1, 2a
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego walked out of the fire. That fire had no power over them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, nor were their clothes burned; not even the smell of fire clung to them. Truly a miracle.
But there was something else that happened in that fire.
Others saw God.
The King and all who were watching saw and acknowledged the Son of the Most High God. Their faithfulness in the fire became a testimony to everyone watching. Their obedience pointed others to the God they trusted.
And perhaps that is part of what God is doing in the fires we walk through as well.
We may pray for God to remove the trial. We may wonder why He hasn't changed our circumstances. We may ask, “How long, Lord?”
But God's faithfulness does not always mean He removes the fire.
It means He is with us in the fire.
And as we trust Him and remain faithful to Him, others may see Him through our lives.
What fire are you walking through today?
You may not understand why God has allowed it. You may wish He would take it away. But remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
The fire was real.
The danger was real.
But so was God.
He was with them—and He is with you.
God is faithful!
