God in the Furnace

But as the Lord’s witnesses were cast into the furnace, the Savior revealed Himself to them in person, and together they walked in the midst of the fire. In the presence of the Lord of heat and cold, the flames lost their power to consume.RR 181.3

From his royal seat the king looked on, expecting to see the men who had defied him completely destroyed. But his face grew pale as he jumped up from the throne and looked intently into the glowing flames. In alarm he asked, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? ... Look! ... I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”RR 181.4

How did that heathen king know what the Son of God was like? The Hebrew captives in Babylon had represented the truth before him in their life and character. When asked for a reason for their faith, they had given it without hesitation, teaching those around them of the God whom they worshiped. They had told of Christ, the Redeemer to come; and in the form of the fourth in the midst of the fire the king recognized the Son of God.RR 181.5

Forgetting his greatness and dignity, Nebuchadnezzar cried out, “Servants of the Most High God, come out.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came out before the vast multitude, showing themselves unhurt. The presence of their Savior had guarded them from harm, and only the ropes that bound them had been burned.RR 181.6

The great image, set up with such pomp, was forgotten. “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego,” the humbled king acknowledged, “who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve or worship any god except their own God!” “There is no other god who can deliver like this.”RR 181.7

The king of Babylon set about to spread before all the peoples of earth his conviction that the God of the Hebrews was worthy of supreme adoration. And God was pleased with the effort of the king to make the royal confession as widespread as was the Babylonian realm.RR 181.8

By delivering His faithful servants, the Lord declared that He takes His stand with the oppressed and rebukes all earthly powers that rebel against the authority of Heaven.RR 182.1

In the hour of their great test the three Hebrews remembered the promise, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2. The news of their amazing deliverance was carried to many countries by representatives of the nations that Nebuchadnezzar had invited to the dedication.RR 182.2