Trial by Fire

Scriptures: Daniel 3 v 24 - 26, 29:  "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. 
25  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. 
26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 

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 were captured by the Babylonians, along with his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. In this chapter the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, made of himself a giant image of gold and commanded that at the sound of any kind of music people must bow down and worship this image, and whoever refused would be cast into a fiery furnace and killed.

The Chaldeans, the Babylonian priesthood, 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 people to witness a miracle and become believers?

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.

Joan of Arc defied the British forces in France, defied the Roman Catholic priests, defied her own king and at the age of 19 was burnt to death at the stake as a witch and a heretic.  She had rallied the French army to make a path through to the Cathedral at Rheims where the Dauphin must be crowned King Charles.

Wherever she led the French army the British fell back, sometimes before warfare began.  They hated her.  She survived an arrow through her heart and the following day led her forces against them.  She heard the voice of God urging her on.

The Catholic Church put her on trial and when they could not break her, handed her over to the English who condemned her to death.  She is still a heroine to the people of France.  The Catholics canonized her a saint in May, 1920.  She would reject this false sainthood if she could.  

An interesting aspect to be aware of is the link between music and idolatry.  The archangel Lucifer, who became Satan, was created a musical being who was responsible for praise and worship in Heaven.  When he fell, all music fell with him, and is still used to inspire idolatry.  Even some gospel music is tainted by a false anointing that few can discern.  For example the songs of Hillsong in Australia and the USA have become very compromised with the world, and the leaders of those bands have fallen into error.  

If you have not seen them in action please visit them on YouTube and decide if that type of music and behaviour would be welcome in Heaven.  By their fruits you will know them.  And many other groups are following their example.  It brings us into fiery trials. As John wrote, Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father how great are your dealings with stubborn, idolatrous people who force Your people to bow and  then 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.