Gentle and Quiet Spirit

Nebuchadnezzar’s Idol

The Babylonian King builds a golden idol that is 90 feet high (60 cubits) and 9 feet wide (6 cubits)in honor of Nebo, who Nebuchadnezzar considered his god. He placed it on the plain of Dura, which is an unknown place. Then he called on all the important leaders from all over the land to come and help him dedicate the image and display it for everyone to see. Then when there is a signal of music, everyone was to bow down to the golden idol and worship him and his god Nebo.

But not everyone under King Nebuchadnezzar would worship the idol. Some of the Chaldeans (from Southern Babylon) heard about three Jewish leaders who were among the ones who will not worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Nebuchadnezzar is furious and has the three men brought to him to confirm what they said.

Now it’s here when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego say that they don’t have any need to answer the king in this matter. Here is where these three men are confident in their faith to God. They know they don’t have to explain themselves. They know that if God wants to prove to Nebuchadnezzar that He is God, then He will.

(Read Daniel 3:8-18)

Some say that was an angel of the Lord standing in that furnace with those three faithful men. I say it was Jesus. All the way back to Genesis we know that God said, “Let us make man in OUR own image.” Well He wasn’t talking to another god, He was talking to Jesus. Jesus has been around since before creation! Another reason I believe it was Jesus in that fire is because He created hell! That little campfire Nebuchadnezzar had going on ain’t nothing compared to the lake of fire and sulfur! Not too mention, He died on the cross and defeated death in those fiery depths of hell so why wouldn’t he be able to stand in that furnace and protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego? Old Neb and his men looked down in that furnace and saw FOUR men walking around and in my Bible it says the fourth one looked like the Son of God!

Come on church!

(Read Daniel 3:19-25)

Listen, that fire was so hot that the soldiers who put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in it died from the heat alone! Immediately after they entered the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar said, “Didn’t we put three men in the furnace? Why is there four walking around?” Then he called them out and everybody was looking at them and saw that no a hair on their head was singe, not a stitch of clothing was burned. They came out just as healthy as they went in! Then Nebuchadnezzar praised the God of Israel and said that if anyone touches a hair on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego’s head that he would put them to death and burn their houses!

(Read Daniel 3:26-30)

Nebuchadnezzar became an instant believer when he saw four men walking around in the furnace! Just like when we are faithful through our trials, our problems recognize our God and we get pulled from the furnace!

So, let me try and encourage you this morning! When the trials of marriage get too hot! When your financial situation gets too hot! When trials at work and work relationships get too hot! When family feuds get too hot! When the test results come back too hot! WHEN LIFE GETS TOO HOT! Look that problem in the eye and say, just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego said, “We have no need to answer you in this matter.” You have no need to recognize that problem as a problem! They trusted that God would do whatever He needed to do in that situation and He did!

The thing with us is that we start focusing on the problem and wind up dying before we get to the furnace because we let the heat get to us! We don’t even make it in the furnace without focusing on the fire! Sometimes you got to get tossed in the fire before your problem can be solved. Because let me tell you who was already in that fire before Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego…JESUS! He was already there! And he’s already dealing with your problem but your too busy worrying about how high Nebuchadnezzar turned p the heat!

Look that problem in the face and repeat after me, “The Lord will fight my battles, I just need to be quiet. (Exodus 14:14) And I know my God is already dealing with you!”

Come on somebody! He’s already there! He’s waiting for you to come see so y’all can look out from the furnace and watch your problems squander around looking dumbfounded because there’s someone in the fire stopping your from getting burned!

I want to close with this; one thing we need to realize is that Jesus has already been there. Not only does He know every battle you are going to face, He’s fought those same battles and died in place of you so that you don’t have too! No greater love than a man lay His own life down for His friend. Whether you know Him personally or not, He is your friend. Today is that day to stand in the furnace with Him and face your Nebuchadnezzar! Put away the things of this world and stand with Jesus!