God Walks With Us Through the Flames

Introduction

So often when we have problems in life we pray to God we expect Him to whisk away all of our problems right then. Like Elijah when he fled into the wilderness to die and God led him to Mount Carmel, he expected God to make all of his problems disappear. Instead God had been working on solutions for all of the problems in Elijah’s life and in Israel in general. I want you to think about your own prayer life as we read this story in Daniel, and how you expect or desire God to answer your prayers. Do you expect Him to whisk away all of your problems, or are you listening for the still small voice beside you?

Daniel 3:1-7 An idol is set forth

Nebuchadnezzar made a statue that was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. A man-made idol has been set up for worship. In this time monarchs were seen as gods. They acted as though they should be treated as such as well. God gave us a commandment not to have any idols. When we think of idols we usually picture giant, 90 foot statues. In reality, an idol is anything that you place importance upon equal to or greater than God. If you take a moment to think about it, do you have any idols in your life?

Daniel 3:12-15 Nebuchadnezzar gives Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego a second chance

Upon hearing that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have disobeyed his direct command to worship the statue, Nebuchadnezzar brings them in and gives them a second chance. You will be tempted to worship idols in your life, but the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God will not tempt us past our limits. So, much like these three, each of us has the potential to resist temptation. But only if you place God first in your life.

Daniel 3:16-18 The three Jews are steadfast

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stalwartly refuse to bend to Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship. They had faith that God would rescue them, and they had faith that if He did not rescue them they would still have life. This is where true believers are separated from fair weather believers. If you truly believe in God, no threat of death will move you, but if your faith is weak or faulty, you will bow like everybody else did.

Daniel 3:20-23 The fires of faith

Your faith has been tested, and you have not bowed, you have not turned from God. So you expect the problems to go away right here, but this is the point where the flames come rushing up. This is the worst point of your trials. In your own trials think about this moment, as well as Job scraping boils off himself with broken pottery amidst his destroyed household. What will your reaction be?

Daniel 3:24-25 God walks with you

You see, God does not quench the flames around you, rather He walks beside you through the flames to show you that no trouble in this life is greater than He.

Daniel 3:26-29 Your faith leads others to God

Your faith in the hard times could lead others to God. There are always people watching you, and if you run away from God at the slightest provocation, they will see it. But if you continue to have faith in God throughout your trial, or your “furnace”, they will see that and it could help to lead them to the Lord.