King Nebuchadnezzar had a 90 foot tall gold statue made of himself and commanded everyone to BOW DOWN TO IT. Three Hebrew young men named Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, we most likely know them as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, would not bow down to the statue! “Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him…he said, “Is it true, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?” (Daniel 3:13-14)
Nebuchadnezzar went on to say, I will give you one more chance to worship the statue I have made…They replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown in, the God whom we serve is able TO SAVE US…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…” (Daniel 3:15-18)
“Nebuchadnezzar was so furious…He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter…he ordered some of the strongest men to bind and throw them in…because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the men in. So they fell into the roaring flames. But Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed…“Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, walking around unharmed! And the fourth looks like the son of god!” (Daniel 3:19-25) These three boys TOOK A STAND and God spared them, “Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants WHO TRUSTED IN HIM, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because THERE IS NO OTHER GOD WHO CAN DELIVER LIKE THIS.“ (Daniel 3:28-29)
-Bill Stockham