Throughout the Bible we read stories of people who faced fearful circumstances and yet chose to obey God. One such story is in the book of Daniel during the time when the Jews were in captivity in Babylon. The prophet Daniel had already faced the lions in the lion's den and was delivered unharmed. Daniel’s friends, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-Nego, would also go through a testing time where their faith would be challenged.

 The Babylonians did not serve the God of the Jews, but served their own man-made gods and idols. When Daniel revealed King Nebuchadnezza’s dream and the interpretation of it, the king promoted Daniel to be the head administrator in the Babylonian kingdom. The king also stated that Daniel’s God was the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets. Despite this, the king made an  image of gold that was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. The king had a dedication with all of the important leaders of the kingdom. There was an announcement that when musical instruments were played as a symphony, then all people who heard the music had to bow down and worship the image of gold. Whoever did not, would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.  

 It was reported to the king that Daniel’s three friends did not obey the king's decree when music was played. In fact, the king was told that these Jews did not serve the Babylonian gods or worship the golden image. The king became furious and commanded that the three be brought to him. When they came before the king, the king questioned them and gave them a chance to obey his decree or be thrown into the fiery furnace. The king added, “And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”  

 The three answered that their God would deliver them from the fiery furnace and the king’s hands, but if not, they would not serve their gods or worship the gold image. Upon hearing this, the king became more angry and commanded that the furnace be heated up seven times more. He commanded certain mighty men of valor in his army to tie up the three with ropes and throw them into the furnace. The furnace was so hot that the mighty men of valor were killed by the flames of the fire.  

The king could see into the furnace and what he saw was completely amazing. He saw the three walking around in the furnace with no ropes, but they were still clothed. He also saw a fourth person with them whom he described looked like the Son of God. The king went closer to the furnace and called them to come out. When they came out, their clothes didn’t even smell of fire and not even their hair had been singed. The king admitted that God had delivered them and he issued a new decree that any people, nation, or language who speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego would be cut in pieces and their houses burned. The king then promoted the three of them into higher positions of leadership in the kingdom.

Read the rest at: https://litwithprayer.substack.com/p/choose-god-over-fear-and-man?sd=pf