Posted: 08 April 2025

From a sermon given on 06 April 2025:

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
(Daniel 3:24)

Then he answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
(Ganiel 3:25)

This incident is one of the strongest examples of steadfast faith. When it was reported to Nebuchadnezzar that some Hebrew boys had refused to bow to his golden image, the king became furious and ordered them to be brought before him. Even in his presence, they were categorical that they were not going to bow. They had faith that God would deliver them. And even if he chose not to do so, still they were not going to worship his image.

In his rage, he ordered the fire heated seven times. "Seven times is an idiom of as much as possible." It was too hot to the extent that the flame of the fire slew this men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Then these were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire!

And alas! Nebuchadnezzar had "a pinch me I may be dreaming moment." He stood up in haste and said to his officials , "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? i see four men loosed, walking" (not seated, not bound, not agonising) but walking in the midst of the fire. And the fourth one looks like the son of the gods. Our God is a consuming fire. His fire can purify, create or even destroy. The fire is the epic of his glory. His Majesty is portrayed like an unquenchable fire which commands respect and awe. Any time we are in the fire (problems, crisis), our God will be right there walking with us.

Further readings:

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
(Genesis 32:28)

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
(Isaiah 56:5-8)

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
(Isaiah 43:1-3)