Daniel: The Fourth Man in the Fiery Furnace

Source: https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/jer29-burning.jpg

Daniel 3:20-25

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 flame 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 astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, 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."

The story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is a story that is often taught in Sunday Schools. These three young men were men of faith, trust, and hope. Each of them had a trust in God that stemmed directly from their names. Hananiah means "Yah is gracious," Mishael means "Who is what El is?," and Azariah means "Yah has helped." Why then do we never hear these names?

Because their names were changed. While these names hold significance in the Hebrew to mean names of the one true God, the names that were given to them--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego--hold significance with the Babylonian gods. It is entirely possible that the meaning of the Babylonian names given to these three men were merely the same names with Babylonian gods replacing Jehovah in the meaning. 

And yet, who saved these men?

It was Jehovah. Jesus Christ was walking around in the furnace with them. When they refused to obey the command of King Nebuchadnezzar to worship the golden image that he had set up of himself, they defied the names that had been given to them by the Babylonians and held to the heritage of their Hebrew upbringing.

Yahweh was gracious to them. He saved them when He didn't have to. These men were willing to go through the fiery furnace and die for what they believed.

When asked the question, "who is what El is?", they could honestly say no one. No man or god could measure up to what God did for them. While man tried to kill them, the one true God saved them.

Yahweh helped them. He walked through the fire with them. He released them from the bonds that tied them. When they emerged from the fire they didn't even smell like smoke!! 

These 3 men knew who they worshipped. They loved Him. And He was the fourth man walking through the fire with them.