The Fourth Man
Scriptures: Daniel 3
Verse 29: "Therefore I make a decree that any
people, nation or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 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."
The esteemed prophet, Daniel, is among those Hebrews who
was captured by the Babylonians, along with his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego. In this chapter the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, made a giant
image of gold and commanded through a decree that at the sound of any kind of
music people must bow down and worship, and whoever refused was to be cast into
a fiery furnace and killed.
The Chaldeans who were wizards, witches, sorcerers and
astrologers denounced the Jews who refused to bow down to a false god. They
pointed to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego saying these men refused to worship
your golden image and must be thrown into the furnace.
King Nebuchadnezzar was enraged and asked the 3 Jews if
it was true. He said the music would sound and they must worship or burn.
The three Jews answered the King saying that the God they
serve is able to rescue them from his furnace, but even if He chooses not to,
we refuse to bow down to this idol. The King was furiously enraged at this
defiance and ordered the furnace to be made 7 times hotter and the 3 rebel Jews
bound and thrown into it. Those who threw them in were killed by the blast of
heat.
Verse 24 says Then the King was astonished and rose up
hastily and asked his counsellors - Did we not cast three bound men into the
fire? They answered that this was true. King Nebuchadnezzar then 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!
Astonishing indeed. And when Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego came out of the furnace not one hair on their heads was singed and not
even the smell of smoke on their garments. Nebuchadnezzar hailed them as
servants of the most high God who refused to compromise or submit to idolatry
preferring death rather than sin. So the three Hebrews were promoted and their
God exalted.
In these days the division between the righteous and the
corrupt grows ever wider and the days will come when Satan will test our
commitment. How will you respond if this happens to you? Will you trust Jesus
to show up in the midst of fire and deliver you out of the enemy's hands even
causing that enemy to witness a miracle and become a believer?
Jesus Christ created this planet, this universe and every
one of us. If we exalt Him by our steadfast faith and refuse to bow to enemy
pressure, He will always cause us to triumph!
He has a way of setting a scenario to attract the attention of sinners.
You may be the next person He is preparing to use like this.
I remember the testimony of Richard Wurmbrand the pastor
from Russia who was imprisoned in Siberia for his faith. He was travelling
through India when he found a large group running through fiery burning coals
to honour their god, Krishna. They mocked Richard because his God would not
help him run through the coals.
Faith welled up within Richard and her removed his shoes
and socks, rolled up his trouser legs to the knees and stood in the midst of
those coals for 45 minutes preaching the gospel. All the followers of Krishna
got saved and believed in Jesus. Are you willing to win souls through mighty
faith in Jesus?
Prayer: Heavenly
Father how great are your dealings with stubborn, idolatrous people who force
Your people to bow and You turn the tables on them. Thank You for being
faithful to us all. Give us boldness and courage to not blink first. In Jesus'
name. Amen.