Daniel Part 3: Another in the Fire
24But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
25“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed@ And the fourth looks like a son of the gods!” (Daniel 3:24-25)
Whether you have read the Book of Daniel in your adult life or not, most likely you are familiar with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the fire. It is one of those highly visual stories from every child’s Bible. The Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, had a 50-foot golden statue built to celebrate his victories. He created a law throughout the land that whenever music played, everyone would bow down toward the statue, but Daniel and his three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) refused to worship the king or the statue. They proudly stated that they would only bow down to God alone. Because of their defiance, Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to be thrown into the furnace, a fire burning so hot, that it ignited the guards throwing the three men in. And as the king stood watching for the three men burn to ashes, he sees a miraculous sight: there was another in the fire.
There is much debate on who was in the fire with the three friends. Some believe it was either the angels Michael or Gabriel. But some believe that it was Jesus in his divine state keeping the three men safe. Regardless of who was actually in the fire, God sent someone to protect these three men from destruction, and they emerged unharmed and triumphant, with Nebuchadnezzar issuing a new decree: that if anyone speaks a word against the “God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb”(Daniel 3:29).
The political climate of the United States is rising, and our self-proclaimed “king” is demanding all his subjects bow down and fall-in line or face bitter consequences. America has put political idolatry ahead of their true worship of God and having a relationship with Jesus. There are those in this country that are celebrating the unprecedented attacks on federal employees who are suddenly finding their livelihoods pulled out underneath them like the latest rug-pull crypto scam. Elon Musk’s plan at slashing thousands of government jobs is hurting the most vulnerable workers whose only goals was to work in a job that served the people of this country. If you are supporting these efforts to put honest working people out of a job, you might need to look in the mirror and do some self-reflecting. What job have you ever held that served the general public? If you have never made the efforts to work in a field that served anything but your own public interest, then just stay off social media and keep your opinions to yourself. What this administration is currently doing is clearly illegal, which is why many of the executive orders this generation’s golden calf has signed have been shut down by federal judges, and why they are facing mounting legal challenges.
There are two furnaces burning in America right now, one that is trying to burn this country to the ground, and the one that is burning in anger at all that is unfolding in this country. Sooner or later, you’ll be drawn to one of these fires, and only one of them has another in the fire. The King is in the Room, and he will shelter you from the flames.
Common Sense Reborn 