The book of Daniel records a powerful and life-changing story of  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These young men were exiles from Judah and were officials of one of the greatest kings in human history, King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had erected a 90-foot tall golden statue of himself and had commanded all people from every nation and creed to bow down and worship the image. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego served the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the true and living God and refused to bow down and worship the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When it was found out that these three Hebrew officials were unwilling to bow down and worship this image, they brought them to the king. Here’s what transpired:

Daniel 3:14-18  Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?  I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O  Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

The king was so enraged that he had the furnace heated seven times hotter – so hot that the strongest men and his kingdom, who threw them in, died. After they threw the men into the fire, the king noticed that they were walking around in the furnace unharmed with one other person that looked like the son of the gods. He came as close as he could and with a shout commanded them to come out. This is what transpired:

Daniel 3:27-30 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!  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.  Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

Sometimes obedience to God seems scary and even outright dangerous, but the end result is magnificent! If God has told you something, you can be sure, the safest place is right smack dab in the middle of where he told you to be! Not only is this the safest place for you but is also the place of your exaltation!  Matthew 23:12  “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Whenever we humble ourselves to obey God at any cost, the results are…

 LIFE-CHANGING

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