Ruthe's Secret Rosesl
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Walking with An Angel in the Furnace
King Nebuchadnezzar had a huge statue of gold made. Once it was set up in the plains of Dura, he
commanded everyone to come to the dedication, to worship this new idol.
The program was simple. The instant the orchestra started to play with pomp and ceremony, everybody,
but ev-er-y-body was to fall down and worship this idol. If you did not, there was a large furnace
nearby, and you would get chucked into it.
Three captured young princes found themselves in this crowd of command worshipers, but when they
heard this announcement, they knew it would disgrace their God, the one true God, and Creator of
all, if they obeyed the king. Normally, they were very careful to obey their authority figures, but
here they drew a line. When the sea of others around them dropped to their foreheads at the first
notes of music, these three stayed standing upright.
Seems there are always peekers when people are suppose to be praying and it didn't take long until
someone tilted their head sideways and noticed the three sticking up like very sore thumbs. Some
tattle-tails scurried off to tell king Nebuchadnezzar.
Furious, the king sent for them, and gave them another chance. (I think he knew their value to him,
and was loath to dispose of them too quickly). He threw down a challenge, "If you do not worship the
image, you will be thrown into the blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my
hand?"
In unison, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend
ourselves in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to
save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, know, O
king, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold."
That riled the king. He had the furnace heated seven times hotter, and the three tied up and thrown
into it. The soldiers who did the throwing died from the heat of the flames!
However! King Nebuchadnezzar, from his vantage point, could look into the furnace, and saw not three
bound men roasting, but four men, free of all bondage, walking around in the fire as if strolling in
a garden! Instantly he knew that the fourth one looked like an angel, or a son of the gods, to use
the expression of their day.
He got as close to the opening of the furnace as he dared, and called out - "Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
So they strolled out of the furnace. All kinds of government officials witnessed this, and saw that
fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed! Their clothes were not
scorched, nor was there even a scent of smoke on them!
King Nebuchadnezzar loudly praised God, and announced to all, "An angel has rescued these servants
of God who refused to worship any but their own true God."
To make sure no one would ever even say a negative word about them, the king decreed that anyone
doing so be cut up in pieces, and their houses demolished to rubble. Also, the three brave men were
promoted in Babylon. Wow!
If you're having what for you is a furnace experience,wouldn't you like a thorough and complete
deliverance on that scale? So what's the problem? Don't we worship and serve the same God? Or is it
that we don't have the same kind of confidence in Him?
Actually, I have had really huge bad experiences, and the Lord Jesus Himself walked with me in the
midst of them. I have come through and not been damaged at all. Only matured and more devoted to
Him.
Do you have such a story too? Tell it. Someone will be encouraged to trust God as well.
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