Serving God in a Hostile Environment. The Example of Daniel and His FriendsSample

God shows His power

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not bow down for King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. Therefore, they are cast into the fiery furnace — the king even orders to heat it seven times hotter than it is usually heated before the men are cast in there. The soldiers who throw them in are killed by the heat of the flames. But to the king’s astonishment, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are not burned to death at all! He sees them freely walking around in the fire, and there is a fourth person with them who looks “like a son of the gods”.

When the king summons the men to come out of the fire, it turns out that not even their hair or their clothes have been scorched. There is only one conclusion possible: God has miraculously delivered them. This is God’s response to the king’s prior challenge: “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”. Well, now it is clear before everybody present that “the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” is able to do exactly that. He has shown His supernatural power and His faithfulness towards His servants.

This God has not changed since, and He never will. Therefore we are invited to join a song of praise that was composed thousands of years ago:

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
    Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
    awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11, ESV)