Will They Light a Fire in Advance?

Daniel 3:6
Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

Daniel 3:15
… But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Daniel 3:17
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

Daniel 3:19
… He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

Daniel 3:21
So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made a statue that they expected everyone to stand around it and bow down in worship. What we also notice from reading the story is that they also had a ready furnace that would burn those who disobey the command to worship the statue. Why did they have the furnace in advance? Did they expect that people will disobey and refuse to worship the statue?

Well, someone can argue that maybe the furnace was always there for other purposes. We have furnaces for brick making, charcoal burning, etc. Probably the furnace was used during the construction of the statue. However, we note that the threat to throw people into the furnace was given even before anyone disobeyed, Daniel 3:6. Did they expect many people to disobey?

Well, probably they would have had the furnace available and only given the threat as a plan B when they discover that some people are not worshipping the image. To show that they were prepared for disobedience, they even lit the furnace. Before anyone disobeyed the furnace was lit and was furiously burning. Did they expect many people to disobey?

Clearly, King Nebuchadnezzar and his team expected that not everyone will accept to worship the statue. They knew something about the people they had forced to come to worship. They knew that these people will not accept to worship the statue. They expected disobedience.

Babylon had slaves from Israel. Israelites were known for their commitment to God and refusal to worship other gods. With Israelites in their territory, they were right to expect that someone will refuse to worship the statue. They were right to expect defiance. That is why the fire was ready in advance!

The setting up of fire in advance was a testimony of the faith they had seen Israelites exhibit. They knew Israelites would rather die than worship another god. They set up the fire in advance which indirectly was an honor to the Israelite faith. If Israelites faith was cheap a threat would do and they would all abandon their God and worship an idol.

Would those who know you set up a fire in advance? Would those who know you contend that a simple threat will make you abandon faith? If your faith is tested would a fire be lit in advance? Are there people close to you or far from you who are sure you will remain faithful to God? What do your enemies think about your faithfulness? Will they light a fire in advance?

If you were to be burnt for refusing to steal public funds or money under your care, would they light a fire in advance? If you were to be burnt for attending church when others are attending a political rally nearby or a social trip with friends or a company team building event at a nice out-of-town resort, would they light a fire in advance? Lighting a fire in advance means they are sure you will remain faithful to God even in the face of death. Will they light a fire in advance?

Sometimes lighting a fire in advance is writing a firing letter before you remain faithful and offend them. Lighting a fire in advance is when your tormentors meet and agree to replace you before you offend them because they are sure your faithfulness will offend them. Will they light a fire in advance?

Are you so faithful to God that a boyfriend or girlfriend is most likely to break up with you because you don’t engage in sex before marriage? Will they light a fire in advance? Is your mischievous spouse so sure you won’t cheat that they have to find other grounds to accuse you? Are your bosses and customers so sure that you will deliver on the assignment that they will not try to catch you on incompetence and will need other grounds? Will they have to act in advance since you are so faithful to God? Will they light a fire in advance?

Help us, dear God, help us to remain so faithful that foe and friend will have to light a fire in advance. As you did for Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego, step into our fires and save us today, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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