Free In the Furnace! (PART 2)
- kendramanuel01
- Sep 4, 2023
- 4 min read
Happy September! If you're anything like me, a new month, especially one that looks sunny, excites you! The sun is out, the birds are chirping and Spring is on its way!
In my previous blog post, we spoke about Daniel and his friends, more specifically, how their lives were completely changed when they were taken into a brand new city - a city that went against everything they believed. They experienced a culture shock and had to make some changes - luckily for them, they were faithful to God and didn't allow their environment to change their convictions! We pick up the story in Daniel 3, where King Nebuchadnezzar decreed that at the sound of musical instruments, every person had to worship the gold statue that he'd made.
Daniel 3
7 So at the sound of the musical instruments,[d] all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshipped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments.[f] But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
The Blazing Furnace
19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god[g]!”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!
In this scripture, we read 3 times that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were securely tied, and bound up.
1. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace
2. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace
3. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied...
It's very clear that when they entered the fire they were bound, BUT as they walked (WITH JESUS) they were set free. The word I want to leave you with is this - I’d rather walk freely in the furnace, than in bondage in Babylon.
I'd rather be with my Jesus, EVEN if it leads me to the fire, even if it leads me to trials, even if it leads me into the unknown than be bound by the ways of the world!
In the MIDST of the fire, they walked around FREELY!
I would rather be with JESUS in my fire than be bound by anything else
Who are you walking with? In this "fire" you're experiencing, in this season, who is leading you?
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” Isaiah 43:1-2
Today I want to ask what your Babylon is. What has been holding you bound? Is it the past, your unknown future, a relationship, an addiction, your mindset
What do you need to give up so you can walk freely with Jesus?
Take a moment and spend some time with Jesus and ask him what it is in your life that you need to let go of.
I hope you feel challenged, inspired and encouraged!
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