Contemplative Bible Reading

Daniel 3:16-18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. ¹⁸ But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

This is one of those “Bible stories” I heard as a child. God saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace.

Bible stories for children are great. They teach great truths and teach that teachers love children and love the Bible. All good things.

Let’s step into the adult side of the Bible stories. These three young men were confident in God and humble in their position as it related to God. They were quite confident to stand before one of the world’s most powerful men and tell him how things were.

• God is able to save us. The power of the king is not worth mentioning.
• God is God. God will choose what to do here and now.
• We will always serve God the Creator, not your man-made gods.

And they were tossed into certain death. Note, they didn’t jump into the furnace. They were tossed. They resisted death as best they could.

And, they let God choose their fate.