As I think of Babylon, the great empire that took the Jews into captivity, four people come to mind that had a similar experience here. Daniel 1:17 “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.”

Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego were made administrators over the province of Babylon. And when an order came down to from King Nebuchadnezzar that people should only worship the gold image he had made, they did not follow it rather they decided to stay faithful to the one true God. When Nebuchadnezzar heard that they did not worship the idol he was enraged and ordered them to be thrown in a fiery furnace. They responded to the decree. “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship you’re the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

They were all thrown into the furnace that was heated so hot that the men throwing them in were burned to death. When the King looked into the furnace, he said, “Look! I now see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed and the fourth looks like the son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25

After the three men were removed from the fire, Nebuchadnezzar worshipped their God. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37

Years later Daniel was in a similar situation, when men who were jealous of Daniel had King Darius sign a decree ordering that no one was to pray to anyone besides the king. Daniel was eventually thrown in a lions den because he prayed to God, as was his custom three times a day, and not to king. When Daniel survived the night in the lion’s den, King Darius was also moved to worship the God of Daniel. Daniel 6:26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.”

My thoughts about these men are mostly of admiration as well as I think they have an eternal exhortation for us. They easily could have gone along with the crowd. They were men in exile. When in Rome do as the Romans do. However, they would not worship any god, but only the one true God even to the point of death. As I sit in this land that is filled with many who hate all that is Christian or Jewish, I pray that God will raise up modern day Daniels, Shadrachs, Meshachs, and Abedengos that will testify and remain faithful to God even to the point of death, that God may use them to change the minds of even kings.

Soli Deo Gloria