Daniel 3:24-26 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Faith will be tested in the smoldering furnace. Oppression for our faith is a ‘furnace of trial’ that would put our trust to test. The bolder and zealous we are, the hotter the flames of the furnace would be.
Temptations are satan’s snare to stumble us into sin while trials are God permitted setups for success.
King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, had overthrown Israel, destroyed Jerusalem and had taken young, brilliant and able-bodied men from the royal family to serve him. They were forced into pagan practices and lured into cheap pleasures. A ninety feet tall and nine feet wide golden statue of Nebuchadnezzar was erected and all the people of the land were commanded to worship it at the sound of a siren. However among the captives were three zealous young men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to bow down to the golden idol. Hence, they were arrested and threatened to be burnt alive in the fiery furnace. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 93a), (the text of Rabbinic Judaism), states that during this time, Daniel was out of the country on the king’s mission. Hence Daniel is not found among the three men who refused to bow down to the golden idol.
The faith of the Hebrew boys was tested in the seething furnace. They were forced to compromise but they refused the bouts of temptation to camouflage their faith and willingly submitted to martyrdom.
Temptations, Trials and Testimonies:
1. Compromise: Temptation will come in the form of a threat, warning or compromise to remain silent in a trial. However, when we refuse to compromise, the Lord of Hosts will take over the battle. The oppressors do not torture us but touch the apple of God’s eye. So, don’t compromise. God will fight for you.
2. Camouflage: The temptation in the trial would be to soft play and camouflage our faith to avoid conflict and confrontations, but those who boldly confess their faith are certain to have angelic protection around them.
3. Candour: Those who refuse to go on a ‘pride parade’ or agree to abortion and wink at infidelity may be ostracized by the society but it is important to be clear and candid about our belief as we are the voice of the truth to the world. However, our speech must always be seasoned with love. Our candid conversations should not be rude, judgemental or mean.
Overturn the temptations, tests and trials into testimonies.
Daniel 3:17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, give me the resilience to overthrow temptations, refuse to compromise, and not camouflage my Christian stand but also give me the boldness to be the voice of truth. Amen.
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