The story in Daniel 3 of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace teaches us these four lessons:

1) Doing God’s will can attract opposition. We mustn’t expect everyone to appreciate what we’re doing. Look at Jesus: ‘In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it’ (John 1:4-5 NKJV).

2) God will be with us in times of trouble. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he said, ‘I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God’ (Daniel 3:25 NKJV). Instead of destroying them, the fire destroyed the ropes that bound them, setting them free. It may look like circumstances have got us locked in, but God will defend us and bring us out of it victoriously.

3) It’s our test that produces our testimony. People will be watching us. The things they’re trusting in don’t work, and they might be wondering if what we’re trusting in does. Our faithfulness to God and His intervention on our behalf will touch their lives in ways that preaching and theological arguments never will. Everyone in Babylon knew what the Hebrew children believed. But they wanted to know, ‘Does it work when you’re in the fire?’ It does!

4) Great trouble can lead to great blessing. ‘Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon’ (v.30 NKJV). When we prove that we’re faithful in times of trouble, God will bless us in so many ways.

What Now?

Read slowly through Daniel 3. Make a note of anything new that God reveals to you about being true to your faith.