Contemplative Bible Reading

Daniel 3:28 (New Living Translation)

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”

This is part of the (hi)story of the three Jewish fellows who refused to worship anyone other than the true God. As punishment, they were thrown into “the fiery furnace.” It had been heated way past its limits (they turned it to “11” as the old silly movie would say). The people who pushed the three Jewish men into the furnace were killed by the heat.

King Nebuchadnezzar looks into the furnace and sees the three Jewish men walking around (big furnace) and also sees a fourth. Nebuchadnezzar says the fourth person is an angel.

How did Nebuchadnezzar know what an angel looked like? I don’t know what an angel looks like. I mean, angels have wings or something, right? That’s what I see in all the drawings and paintings. Angels fly, float in the air, glow, and stuff like that right? I don’t know what an angel looks like.

Nevertheless, Nebuchadnezzar recognizes an angel from God. Nebuchadnezzar had not previously acknowledge the true God. Yet, here he is, he recognizes an angel.

How does God do this? How does God put things into the minds of people so that we know something when we see it? God has been doing these things that we don’t understand and struggle to believe for thousands of years. God is amazing. I cannot comprehend the ability and magnificence of God. And God still takes care of little old me.