Daniel 3

Read Daniel 3

Helpful Background Information: 

• In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face intense pressure to compromise their faith. King Nebuchadnezzar had built a massive golden statue (90 feet tall) and commanded everyone in the kingdom to bow down and worship it. Refusing to do so was punishable by death in a fiery furnace. Despite the threat, these three men stood firm.

• When the king carried out his threat by throwing the gang into a fiery furnace, the three men were, miraculously, not harmed. To Nebuchadnezzar’s surprise, a fourth figure, whom he described as looking like "a son of the gods," appeared with them in the fire. The event shocked Nebuchadnezzar into acknowledging the power of the God of Israel.

Reflection Questions: 

• What pressures or temptations in your life challenge your loyalty to God, like the statue did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

• How does their response, "Even if He does not [deliver us]…" challenge or inspire your faith?

• The presence of a fourth figure in the fire is a sign that God was with them in the trial. How have you seen God with you in difficult seasons of life?