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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 your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. Daniel 3:17'18 WEB.

Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had built a golden image ninety feet high and commanded everyone in his kingdom to bow down and worship it when the music played. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before the ruthless King who had conquered their cities and taken them into exile. They listened to the new decree being read.

The King's offer was simple: All they had to do was bow down to the giant statue, and this problem would go away until the next time the music played. It was just a small compromise. They could think of so many ways to justify doing this as well:

"They were captives living here, and they should obey the laws of the land. God could have intervened in the first place, and they wouldn't even be here. Everyone else is doing it."

Yet, when the three Hebrews were given the choice of bowing down to the golden idol or dying, they stood on Deuteronomy 5:7, "You shall have no other gods before Me." They told Nebuchadnezzar that their God was fully able to deliver them. But even if He didn't, they wouldn't serve his god nor bow to his golden idol. Then, having done all they could do, they stood their ground (Ephesians 6:13).

King Nebuchadnezzar became furious, and he preheated the blazing furnace seven times hotter than normal. Then he had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bound and thrown into the furnace. The fire was so hot that it killed the guards who threw them in.

Nebuchadnezzar may have had them thrown into the furnace, but God met them in the fire. They chose death rather than compromise, but God decided to rescue them. What a powerful testimony. They survived the fire, and when they came out of the furnace, only the ropes that had bound them were burned away. They didn't even smell like smoke.

If they had compromised the word of God they knew and understood by intentionally bowing down to the idol, they would have been just like everyone else. God wouldn't have had to deliver them, for they wouldn't have needed it.

If you want to see God show Himself mighty in your life, then be different. Don't go with the flow. Stand on His Word, and don't compromise it to avoid offending someone. God meets us in the fire after we have taken a stand on His word, and then He shows us that He is mighty to save.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me stand strong in the face of my enemies. Deliver me from their hands. I choose You, Lord. Show Yourself strong in my life, and help me make the right decisions today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network

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