“I was able to see not three, but four men unbound and walking around in the fire unharmed” 

Daniel 3:25

Yesterday, we read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith. They told Nebuchadnezzar they were not afraid of his threats of throwing them into the fiery furnace if they chose to not bow down to the golden statue. With such a display of their faith, we might hope that God would rescue them from even being thrown in to begin with, but that is not what happened.

In fact, things got worse. In a furious rage, the king ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual, and had the three men tied up and thrown in.  

Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, ‘Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?’

‘Yes, of course, Your Majesty,’ they replied to the king.  

He exclaimed, ‘Look!  I was able to see not three, but four men unbound and walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like the son of the gods.’

Here are two beautiful things we can’t miss. First, Jesus was in the fire with them. He didn’t save them before the fire (even in light of their obedience). He allowed them to be thrown head-long into the fire. But He was there waiting for them. Second, when the three men were spotted in the fire, they weren’t being consumed by the flames. They were walking around as if they weren’t in the midst of a heated situation. 

Let’s look inward for a moment. That fire you might be walking through right now? The one from which He didn’t spare you? He is with you, right in the midst of it, ready to give you grace and peace to bear the flames. We are going to face hard things. But we don’t have to face them alone. Praise His Name!

Johna Clemons