Three Men, or Four



Daniel 3:1-30
http://www.esvbible.org/Daniel 3

What a story!!! If you didn’t read the Biblical text, stop now and go read it. It is well worth the time. As I indicated a few days ago this is one of my absolute favorite stories from the Bible. (I know, I’ve said that many time before.) Anyway, there is much here to learn and incorporate into our lives. This will be rather a bullet list approach to the story, so here we go.


  • Even after Nebuchadnezzar has a miraculous encounter with the God of the Hebrews with Daniel and the dream, he is determined to have a statue of himself (or his “god”) that all of his people must reverence. And this thing is huge. Based on the measurements given in the text it is over 10 stories tall and over 10 feet wide. Some commentators maintain that it was erected just outside the massive wall of the city of Babylon, thus it was in a protected area that could help support such a tall, skinny structure.
  • All of the city officials (and all of the people) are expected to come out and bow down to this idol. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse.
  • Even after Daniel has had the lives of the other wise men spared in the last chapter, they go after the Jewish leaders and demand their execution for not bowing down to the statue.
  • This refusal to bow down before the statue enrages Nebuchadnezzar and he demands to know what god could possibly save them from the fate of the fiery furnace.
  • The pivotal passage in the story is ““O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) Their declaration of faith is solid and unshakable. We will not worship another god and our God will save us. Even if He doesn’t we’re still okay.
  • Nebuchadnezzar is so angry he has them bound on the spot, clothes and all, and thrown into a furnace that is as hot as it is possible to make it. This was most likely a furnace that was used for brick making or refining metal. It could be entered from both the top and a hole in the bottom as well as was easily large enough for people to walk around in. Burning as a method of execution is attested throughout the ancient world.
  • There are 4 miraculous events that occur during this story:

1. The men in the fire suddenly are no longer  
    bound
2. Their walking around in there – unharmed
3. THERE’S A FOURTH GUY IN THERE!!!!
4. The three men of God come out of the fire 
    unscathed. They don’t even smell like fire.

Let’s deal briefly with point #3. The forth guy. Nebuchadnezzar names is correctly when he says “he is like a son of the gods.” Actually, He is the Son of God! This story contains a pre-incarnate Christ who has come to save His people. When Christ is there, you have nothing to fear; not even the hottest fire man can create. Honestly, what more can you say? God is there in the worst moment to bring refreshment. Not even a hair was harmed on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! And their faith said that even if they should die they would be okay because they trusted in God for whatever happened. This is truly incredible. If you have kids, read them this story tonight. It will become one of their favorites!

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