Heat Rising

Daniel 3:19–23 (ESV)

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

Examine / Explain

Three young men of faith found that disobeying an earthly king would be easier and less painful than disobeying their heavenly King. Nebuchadnezzar had an expectation for everyone to bow down and worship and when they didn’t he was angry and out of control. In his rage, he overcorrected and had a fire built seven times hotter than usual. The “blast radius” of the fire killed his own mighty men. And even though these men died they still managed to get Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to fall into the furnace.

What’s the application?

All I think about right now is when life is hard, it can get harder. The heat can be turned up, especially if we are standing our faith. When I choose not to go with the flow because my morals and beliefs prevent me from doing so, the world will turn on me. Even some “believers” will press in on me. It may not be immediately noticeable, but it will come. That furnace being kicked up by a multiplier of seven probably took seven times longer to get to its peak. The climate surrounding a believer, especially in the United States, is pretty calm. That is doubly true in the South. The norm is a religious background, but what does everyone really believe? That’s not exposed until we stop meeting cultural expectations and start meeting God’s expectations. That is when culture will become enraged and try to turn up the heat. What should our reaction be? What did these young men do? Did they yell and try to convince the king how wrong he was? No. They stuck to their faith and determined that whatever outcome presents itself obeying God is better.

What’s my response?

Dad, how do I handle life? Do I get it right more often than I don’t? Do I truly stand on my faith when life is hard? What do I choose when opportunities present the easy satisfying option? Do I take it or keep pressing against culture? Do I replace the thoughts that come into my mind? Do I flee from immorality? Or do I flirt with sin? Do I take my “stand” next to the thing that I really want to do so I happen to fall in? Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Ps 51:10) Amen.