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Three Faithful Men Daniel 3
The people of Judah were taken as captives to Babylon. Three fine young Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, found favor with the Babylonian king. The king built an image made of gold that stood ninety feet high and set it up on the plains of Dura. Then a herald proclaimed, “People of every language, when you hear the music, you must bow down and worship the statue, by order of the King!”
Some officials of the king, who were probably
jealous of the powerful Hebrews, came to the king and said, “Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego ignore your command to worship the Furious, the king commanded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to appear before him. “Rumors have reached that you three do not bow down to the statue when you hear the music. Please bow down right now and I will forget about the rumors.” “O king, we cannot and will not bow down to an idol,” said the men. The king’s voice rose, “Do you know that means you will be thrown into the fiery furnace?” “Our God is able to protect us from the blaze. Even if he does not choose to save us, we will not worship your gods or idols.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken to the furnace. It was so hot that the soldiers who threw them in were burned up. But to the king’s amazement, he saw the men walking around inside the furnace! “Didn’t we throw in three men?” he asked. “Yes, O great king,” his men responded. “Why do I see four?” the king roared. “Come out, you servants of God Most High!” So the three Hebrew men came out, and not one inch of them or their clothes was burned. The Lord had been with them inside the furnace! “Praise be to God who sent his angel to protect you. I forbid anyone in my kingdom to insult your God. No other god can save this way.”
(From Classic Bible
Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard
Publishing. Used by permission. This book may be purchased at your local
Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).
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