In Daniel 3:19-27, we read of three young Hebrew men who dared to defy the odds. Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, riding the waves of popularity and certainly full of himself, decided to build a statue that was from a dream he had. This statue had a head of Gold on it that according to Daniel’s interpretation represented the King himself and his great kingdom.
Nebuchadnezzar therefore proceeded to have erected this huge statue that would become a focal point of worship for all his subjects, to the exception of three Hebrew men. Even though in captivity these three kept their righteous relationship with Yahweh, the real King of kings, and refused to bow before the idol. They may have been in Babylon but they remembered the Laws of Mount Sinai. They did not forget the second commandment that forbade to “make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:4)
This drew king Neb’s ire and in his anger he orders the 3 men to be cast into the fiery furnace. Moreover he called for the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. It may not have been lava heat but I’m sure it was pretty close. Actually, it was so hot that the guards who threw the 3 men in the fire were consumed on the spot. Talk about a BBQ!
However, as these Hebrew faithful plummet into the cremator, they find themselves in the presence of the Almighty. And we are not talking about a touchy feely kind of presence, it was actually God with them side by side. When the king notices the fourth individual, he praises God and calls the young men out. Everybody in the court gather around them, not to help them, but to see this great phenomenon that just occurred. See Daniel 3:26-27 “Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, 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.”
So what are the lessons that we can draw from this?
1) The number 7
In this story we must remark the Number 7. This number in scripture represents spiritual perfection. It is the number stamped on many events, stories and times in the bible. In the case of this story God is telling us and was telling the three men that HE was in control of the situation. From the beginning His sovereign hand was in charge of the king, of the furnace, of their lives. His control suggested to King Neb to order the fire to be heated not 5, or 10 times greater but 7 times and that for the purpose of signalling to Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego that they were safe in the palm of His hand and under His benevolent care.
2) Like the Son of God
The important thing to remember is that God is always with us even in the midst of the storm or in this case the fire. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Learn to turn to Him in the moments of trial. It does not matter what crucible we are going through He is there in the midst because He loves us. Heb. 13:5
3) Hair not singed
Our hair speaks of covering. God is our covering; He is our protector in times of trouble. We can take refuge under His wings. There is nothing that can harm Him. He says; ”Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew (10:29-31)
Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.
Luke (21:17-18)
4) Garments not burned
The garments speak of our identity and our authority. Our identity is that we are children of the Most High God and King. We are children of royalty. Our authority is God given and is not diminished or lost even in the middle of the fire. In any circumstance or situation our identity and authority will always be greater than our enemy. 1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.,
Mat. 10:8, Mat. 8:8-13, Mark 16:17,
Eph. 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
5) No smell of fire
The sweet aroma Whether as a martyr or as one who travels through adversity, our lives produce a sacrificial fragrance that rises to God as an acceptable offering.
2 Cor. 2:14-16 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?”
Now go walk in VICTORY!
Nebuchadnezzar therefore proceeded to have erected this huge statue that would become a focal point of worship for all his subjects, to the exception of three Hebrew men. Even though in captivity these three kept their righteous relationship with Yahweh, the real King of kings, and refused to bow before the idol. They may have been in Babylon but they remembered the Laws of Mount Sinai. They did not forget the second commandment that forbade to “make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:4)
This drew king Neb’s ire and in his anger he orders the 3 men to be cast into the fiery furnace. Moreover he called for the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. It may not have been lava heat but I’m sure it was pretty close. Actually, it was so hot that the guards who threw the 3 men in the fire were consumed on the spot. Talk about a BBQ!
However, as these Hebrew faithful plummet into the cremator, they find themselves in the presence of the Almighty. And we are not talking about a touchy feely kind of presence, it was actually God with them side by side. When the king notices the fourth individual, he praises God and calls the young men out. Everybody in the court gather around them, not to help them, but to see this great phenomenon that just occurred. See Daniel 3:26-27 “Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, 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.”
So what are the lessons that we can draw from this?
1) The number 7
In this story we must remark the Number 7. This number in scripture represents spiritual perfection. It is the number stamped on many events, stories and times in the bible. In the case of this story God is telling us and was telling the three men that HE was in control of the situation. From the beginning His sovereign hand was in charge of the king, of the furnace, of their lives. His control suggested to King Neb to order the fire to be heated not 5, or 10 times greater but 7 times and that for the purpose of signalling to Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego that they were safe in the palm of His hand and under His benevolent care.
2) Like the Son of God
The important thing to remember is that God is always with us even in the midst of the storm or in this case the fire. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Learn to turn to Him in the moments of trial. It does not matter what crucible we are going through He is there in the midst because He loves us. Heb. 13:5
3) Hair not singed
Our hair speaks of covering. God is our covering; He is our protector in times of trouble. We can take refuge under His wings. There is nothing that can harm Him. He says; ”Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew (10:29-31)
Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.
Luke (21:17-18)
4) Garments not burned
The garments speak of our identity and our authority. Our identity is that we are children of the Most High God and King. We are children of royalty. Our authority is God given and is not diminished or lost even in the middle of the fire. In any circumstance or situation our identity and authority will always be greater than our enemy. 1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.,
Mat. 10:8, Mat. 8:8-13, Mark 16:17,
Eph. 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
5) No smell of fire
The sweet aroma Whether as a martyr or as one who travels through adversity, our lives produce a sacrificial fragrance that rises to God as an acceptable offering.
2 Cor. 2:14-16 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?”
Now go walk in VICTORY!
