Story Four: Being a Friend in the mist of a Storm.
Everyone knows what a physical storm resembles but in case you don’t here is a list: thunderstorms, blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, and dust storms.
Do you know what a spiritual storm refers to? Here is a list of storms in the Bible: Job’s suffering, Jonah’s disobedience, and Paul’s shipwreck, as well as personal experiences of sickness, financial hardship, or relationship struggles.
What are your personal storms right now?
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When was the last time you were involved in a struggle with the community or with your church? Is it ongoing? How was it resolved? Can you see Jesus in the mist?
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Hard times and rough seasons, bring us closer to our friends and often times closer to Christ. It’s in these difficult moments we share a special kind of closeness. While we are traveling through the valley, we learn to lean on our friends and Christ. Often times we can use special nuances to describe our experiences. I’ve heard the following: “We waded the storm together” or “Now we’re fireproof.”
In today’s story, we can find an appropriate one with the book of Daniel. Here, in the book of Daniel we find three friends who literally make it through the fire saved by Jesus Christ. As always, before we dive into the biblical story, I want to bring out a few details that I think will be helpful to you in your study.
The Characters:
King Nebuchadnezzar: “Nebuchadnezzar II, the most prominent king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ruled from 605 to 562 BCE” He led his armies to victory against the Assyrians and Egyptians at the battle of Carachemish. His people, the Babylonian had dominance in the region.
Daniel: he was taken from his family, brought to the Babylon, was a young war prisoner, and was being forced to do the things of Babylon. He had the ability to interpret dreams and he had courage in the face of adversity.
Shadrack, Meshach, and a Bendigo: these were the friends of Daniel, who were also taken as prisoners of war, and were being forced to do the things of Babylon. They also had the innate ability to face adversity and proclaim God throughout the land.
The Content:
King Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of the land. He and his army besieged all of Jerusalem and they won the battle. Then, as custom was in those days, they looted the city and took all their valuables. Nebuchadnezzar also took the most handsome and wisest, unmarried men from Jerusalem. His goal was to take Daniel and his kinfolk to the palace and assimilate them into the Babylonian citizens. Daniel remained faithful to God during this time.
Daniel did the following things:
- He knelt on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
- Daniel and his friends did not eat the food of the king because it went against God‘s law.
- He led them to refuse to bow down to the golden image. They were willing to face death rather than disobey God’s law by worshipping an idol.
- Daniel would not have directly or indirectly violated one of the Ten Commandments.
So, Nebuchadnezzar had the “big head!” He came up with unique ways for the people of Babylon to prove that they were loyal to him alone. He wanted to make sure everybody knew how wealthy and powerful he was. Therefore, he built a huge statue and commanded the people to bow down and worship the statue as they were worshiping him. However, Daniel and his 3 friends: Shadrack, Meshach, and a Bendigo: would not break their covenant with God and bow down to this idol. As a result, King Nebuchadnezzar was infuriated and vowed to throw them in the hottest fire ever to be made.
Now let’s read the story. Daniel 3:13-30 KJV “13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore, he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in 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 coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 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. 25 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. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.”
What is the main reason that King Nebuchadnezzar infuriated by the boys? What did they do?
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What does the king threatened to do to all of the boys?
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What did King Nebuchadnezzar order everyone to do? (Bow down and worship the golden image at the sound of music)
How did the king intensify the punishment? (He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual
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I find it amazing that the three boys stayed faithful to God in the face of death. I asked myself would I do the same thing? Would you do the same thing? A gun is way easier! But by fire?
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What did the king see in the furnace that surprised him?
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What did the king do after witnessing the miracle?
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How can we be more like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in our daily lives?
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How can we encourage and support others who are facing difficult trials of faith?
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Wow! Anger can drive us to do some wild and crazy things. Anger can turn into rage in less than a second. King Nebuchadnezzar was filled with indignation against Daniel and his friends. He wanted to make an example of those boys to his country so that he could show his power and his mite. However, God had much brighter and bigger plans.
Good friends lead you into the path of righteousness, but wrong friends lead you into send and lust. This model story illustrates to us the difference between Right friends and wrong friends. Wrong friends make it difficult to follow God. This gift of friendship is provided by God so that we can hold ourselves in accountability. Accountability is a powerful tool to walk the narrow instead of the Broadway. Having great friends in forming groups that are united for God makes it easier to stand up in the face of adversary. The church is a great encouragement and helps us live holy lives unto the Lord.
I believe one of the most interesting and amazing things to happen in the story is how Jesus shows up in the furnace. In the midst of our storms, spiritual storms and physical storms, Jesus is always there. Whenever we are drowning, we lift our hand to Jesus, and he pulls us out of the miry pit. This is definitely something to testify and shout about. Regardless of how powerless we feel when we are friends with Jesus, nothing can stand against us. We are never alone, and we are never in a fire or in a situation (storm) by ourselves.
Now is the time that we pray. Let’s ask God to thrive in our community, thank him for always being there, and honor him with our praise and worship. -Singing the song “Thank you for your blessings on me.”
Things to Know:
The story emphasizes that having friends who share your values and beliefs can provide strength and support during challenging times.
This little lesson teaches us to stay in the hedge of protection that God offers us. Stay in his grace and draw close to him. Trust the Lord always and good things will result.
Memory Verses:
Isaiah 43:1-2
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