Daniel 3:27 “… They didn’t even smell of smoke!” (NLT)
When a crisis occurs, what actions do you take? Are you in a state of panic or desperation? Are you afraid? Such reactions are completely normal, and it’s possible that you, like me, have experienced them. However, God provides us with a peace that is beyond comprehension, which is a promise made to every believer of Christ.
As our faith grows and we put our trust in God to handle whatever the current problem may be, we will experience this. Faith instills a sense of peace and resolve.
When confronted by a pagan King and commanded to bow down in worship to his gold statute or be thrown into a fiery furnace where they would surely die a horrifically painful death, the three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, could have panicked. They could have compromised their convictions just this once or complained of being mistreated. They did neither! With calm resolve they said to the King
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
While Daniel’s three Hebrew friends responded in calm resolve, it was the King who was outraged. Pride leads to uncontrolled rage. The Bible says, “Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage.” (Daniel 3:19). What a contrast! Remember, it was the three Hebrew men who were the victims, yet they never played the victim card! They were the victors! I believe that is why the Bible tells us that they were delivered from the fiery furnace of affliction without even the smell of smoke!
Even in the midst of our fiery furnace, God is with us. The problem with many believers in today’s world is that even when they are going through a furnace, they always smell like smoke! You never hear the end of how much suffering they have been forced to endure. Contrary to what Jesus expressed to us, this is the exact opposite. He said, “I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) So, when God brings you through a fiery furnace ask Him to take away the smell of the smoke. The only thing that burned up was the ropes that bound the three men!
Daniel 3:24-25 “Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
We are never more free than when we walk by faith! These men walked in victory even in their fiery furnace! Does that sound like a victim to you? No way! They were enjoying sweet fellowship with God who walked with them in the furnace! Talk about calm resolve! Nebuchadnezzar thought he was in control of their destiny, but their destiny wasn’t in the hands of men but in the Sovereign hand of God! In fact, when they came out of that furnace the Bible says, “not a hair on their heads was signed and their clothing was not scorched.” (Verse 27).
Even a pagan King responded with praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He said, “There is no other god who can rescue like this!” (Verse 29)
The final verse says that the King promoted the three Hebrew men to an even higher government position! Sometimes you may have to go through the fire before you get promoted!