Once there was a King named Nebuchadnezzar who ruled in the land of Babylon. He had conquered many lands, including the lands of Israel; and had taken many of the people to Babylon. One day, King Nebuchadnezzar built an image of gold and put it up in a province of Babylon called Dura. Then he called all his governors, counselors, judges, and all other people of power in Babylon to a celebration of his image.
King Nebuchadnezzar commanded his herald, the man who gave announcements to the people, to tell everyone to bow and worship the statue after they hear the music that would be played for Nebuchadnezzar’s image. Whoever didn’t bow and worship, he warned, would be thrown into the fiery furnace as a punishment.
So after the music played, all the people bowed down and worshiped. Then a few of Nebuchadnezzar’s men came forward and accused the Jews of not doing as the king commanded. “O king,” they said, “you have made a decree that everyman who hears the music shall fall down and worship the image, and whoever doesn’t would be thrown into the fiery furnace; but there are three Jewish officials; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who are not obeying your decree. They don’t even serve your gods.”
King Nebuchadnezzar found the three and confronted them. “Is it true that you don’t serve my gods and that you refuse to bow and worship the image that I had put up? I’ll give you one more chance to do as I commanded all the people. Fall down and worship this image or you will be thrown into the fiery furnace.”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego looked at each other then back at the king. “King Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to argue with you. If it is the will of our God that he save us from your furnace then he will, and if not then that’s okay. But we will not serve your gods or worship this golden image.”
Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger and commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he commanded his guards to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and throw them into the furnace. The guards obeyed, but the flames were so hot that the men who threw the three Jews in died just by coming close to them.
Nebuchadnezzar looked into the flames amazed. He moved to his advisors and asked: “Didn’t we throw only three into the fiery furnace?”
“Yes, O King,” they answered.
“But,” said the king, “I see four men in there walking among the flames; and none of them are hurt. And the fourth man…he is like a son of God.” The King stepped closer to the furnace and called out: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; servants of the Most High God, come forth.
The three came forward out of the furnace and all the king’s counselors, officials and other men of power gathered together to see the three Jews who weren’t hurt at all—not their clothes, or their hair, or anything looked like they were in the furnace.
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshach, and Abed-nego,” said Nebuchadnezzar. “Their God sent them his angel to save his servants, who would die before worshipping another God besides their own; and changed the King’s word. Now I make a decree that every people and every nation will never speak any word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. If any man does then he will be killed, because there is no other God that can save His people like this one did.
And King Nebuchadnezzar gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego more power and authority in Babylon.
(Read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the book of Daniel, Chapter 3)
