40 Days in the Word - Day 12

Day 12 – Daniel in Babylon;  The Fiery Furnace

Daniel 2 – 3

Today’s reading takes us to the land of Babylon, where God’s people have been taken into exile after the destruction of Jerusalem.  Daniel and his companions have already attracted attention by not partaking of the kings’ delicacies (Ch. 1), and they showed better health and wisdom by not defiling themselves.  After a disturbing dream by the Babylonian king, Daniel is able to provide an interpretation after calling upon the Lord for help.  This story is a great reminder that people of faith can have great influence among non-believers, as long as we don’t compromise our faith.  To live a compromised faith and then try to demonstrate the truths of God to the world is a losing proposition every time.  In your workplace and among non-believers, are you living a genuine faith?

The second part of today’s reading takes us to the powerful story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace.  They had refused to bow down to a gold statue of the king—even after a second chance to do so (3:15-17)—so they were thrown into the furnace to a sure & certain death, or so they thought.  In one of the most dramatic scenes of the entire Old Testament, King Nebuchadnezzar looks into the fiery furnace and actually sees four people, instead of just three.  And the fourth man was “like the Son of God” (3:25).  Time and space don’t allow me to share all of the lessons learned here, and I have preached countless sermons on this dramatic story.  But don’t miss the simple truth here—that God was faithful to these three Hebrew boys who did not compromise their faith.  He protected them, honored them, and even sent the Son of God to be with them.  The world may not honor your faith.  Your non-believing friends may not honor your faith.  But God will always honor and bless those who walk by faith.

I remember one time I was preaching this story when a humorous event happened.  I had dramatically painted the scene with vivid word images, leading up to the climax of a fourth person being seen in the furnace.  I then ask the congregation what I thought was a rhetorical question:  “Who do you think that fourth person was?”  I was planning on a dramatic pause for effect, but in those few seconds when I let the silence linger, a little boy’s voice announced, “It was Jesus!”  The crown broke into laughter, and I suppose my point was made.  The power of this story is that even children understand that God is always with them.

You may or may not be in the midst of a fiery furnace, but are you holding strong to your faith in whatever circumstance you find yourself?  Neither Daniel nor these Hebrew boys compromised their faith, and their stories challenge us to do the same in world that increasingly disdains the things of God.  In the public arena of careers, civic clubs, and community groups, don’t be afraid to stand upon your faith.  God will be with you to strengthen and sustain you.  And if you happen to get thrown into a fiery furnace as a result, then God will be there with you too.