The Prodigal's ReturnSample

In the Fire

Taylor Harmon

[Daniel 3:10-27 NASB] You, O king, have made a decree that every person who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, is to fall down and worship the golden statue. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the golden statue which you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar began speaking and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods, nor worship the golden statue that I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. For this reason, because the king’s command was harsh and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the highest God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the middle of the fire. The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.

Most of us know the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. The king issued a decree that his people would bow down to worship his image of gold. Serving only God, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego refused to bow to a golden image. In fury, the king ordered them to be thrown into the fiery furnace. The three had faith that God would protect them. After Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego were thrown into the fire, the king saw that there were in fact four men in the fire, unharmed! The king was so moved by this miracle, he issued a decree that no one speak against the God of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. The king acknowledged that there has never been a god who could pull off such a rescue as this!

As I was walking through my fires, I felt so abandoned, lonely, and worthless. I felt as though I would never escape the self-inflicted trials. We don’t always know while we are in the fire that God is and was always with us. After our awakening, we often find that so many blessings come from the fire when we build our relationship with God. God teaches us from our trials as He was walking with us! He allows us to use our trials to reach others who need encouragement!

Today, I am so incredibly grateful for every single trial! I can clearly see how God used all of it to turn it around for my good. I am grateful for every painful thing I experienced, as it all led me to where I am today. I needed every difficult lesson I learned. I have absolutely no regrets and am so grateful God chose to walk with me and rescue me from myself!

God, thank you for always looking after me when I couldn’t look after myself! Thank you for walking with me through the fire and teaching me from my trials. Help me today to use my trials to encourage and teach others about You and Your mercy and goodness. Amen.