I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      Have you ever felt that you were in such a difficult situation that it was impossible to get out?

B.      When you are having spiritual difficulties, always remember that our God is able to deliver you.

                                                             1.      God says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me” (Ps. 50:15).

                                                             2.      To demonstrate God’s wonderful ability to deliver us from difficulty, let us consider the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

II.      SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO

A.      Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were servants of God who were also in the service of Nebuchadnezzar.

                                                             1.      When Babylon conquered Judah, certain youths from the Jews were selected to be educated and placed into the king’s service (Dan. 1:3-4).

                                                             2.      Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among these youths (Dan. 1:5-6, 17-21).

a.       Their Jewish names were changed to the Babylonian names of Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan. 1:7).

b.       These youths were rationed a portion of the king’s choice food and wine, but Daniel and his friends refused to defile themselves with it (Dan. 1:8-16).

                                                             3.      These four became part of the administration over the province of Babylon.

a.       Daniel was promoted to ruler over the whole province and chief prefect over the wise men after he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan. 2:48).

b.       At Daniel’s request, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were also promoted into the administration (Dan. 2:49).

B.      Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold for all to worship, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused.

                                                             1.      The image was 60 cubits (90 feet) high and 6 cubits (9 feet) wide (Dan. 3:1).  It was erected on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon (not in the city itself).

                                                             2.      Nebuchadnezzar assembled all of his ruling class and decreed that at the sound of the music, all men were to fall down and worship the image (Dan. 3:2-7).  Those who would not fall down and worship were to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire.

                                                             3.      The Chaldeans accused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of disregarding the king’s decree (Dan. 3:8-12).

a.       The Chaldeans were a particular tribe of people from southern Babylon, but the term “Chaldeans” is used in Daniel to describe a class of astrologer and astronomer priests (see Dan. 2:2-13; Daniel and his friends had been considered part of this class).

b.       For some reason, Daniel was excluded from these charges.  Certainly, he did not worship the image, but perhaps he was not present for the ceremony or maybe the accusers were intending to deal with him later.

                                                             4.      When Nebuchadnezzar examined Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they refused to serve his gods or worship the image he had made (Dan. 3:13-18).

a.       Nebuchadnezzar gave them a second chance to worship the image in case there was any misunderstanding of the decree.

b.       Alas, there was no misunderstanding, but rather Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego deliberately defied the king, saying, “We are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (v. 18).

C.      God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar.

                                                             1.      In his wrath, Nebuchadnezzar had the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cast into it (Dan. 3:19-23).

a.       Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound immediately and cast into the furnace.

b.       The fire was so hot that the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the furnace were killed.

                                                             2.      To his astonishment, Nebuchadnezzar saw that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not harmed in the furnace (Dan. 3:24-30).

a.       In the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar could see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking about with a fourth man whose appearance was “like a son of the gods” (likely an angel).

b.       After calling them out of the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar decreed that anyone who spoke against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be torn limb from limb and his house reduced to a rubbish heap.

III.   APPLICATIONS

A.      “What God is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” (Dan. 3:15)

                                                             1.      Even when the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were at stake, they refused to compromise their faith.

a.       Certainly, the jealous Chaldeans believed that they had exposed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego so that the king must destroy them.

b.       Nebuchadnezzar must have believed that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would have no choice but to worship his gods and the golden image.

c.        Nevertheless, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego never wavered in their belief that God could deliver them from this bleak situation.  Notice again Daniel 3:17-18.

i.         Their faith was genuine, for they believed in God’s power before they saw it.

ii.        Not only this, but they also expressed their belief in God’s power even if He did not deliver them.

                                                             2.      We must have the same degree of bold faith as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, even in seemingly impossible situations.

a.       This means that we must believe in the power of God even though we have never seen it miraculously displayed.  This is because “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor. 5:7).

b.       This also means that we must believe in the power of God even when events do not happen as we might hope.  Even in suffering or death, we must still believe “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).

c.        We must believe that God provides a way of escape for every temptation (1Cor. 10:13).  The way of escape may not be readily apparent, but we must always choose godliness over sin and believe that God will provide the help we need (Heb. 4:14-16).

B.      “Our God whom we serve is able…” (Dan. 3:17)

                                                             1.      God’s ability is more than we can imagine.

a.       Paul wrote that God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).  Notice the emphasis: it is not just that God can do more than we think, but that he can do “far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.”

b.       Even though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were confident that God could deliver them, they could not have imagined that it would have been in such a magnificent way.

                                                             2.      God’s ability is not limited by the weakness of men.

a.       Even if men do not believe, God is still able.

i.         Man’s opinions of God’s works have no effect upon His power.  Just because many do not believe in the creation, the flood, the resurrection of Christ, or the Judgment, this does not nullify the truth of God’s power.

ii.        As Paul wrote, “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar” (Rom. 3:4).

b.       Even if men do not obey, God is still able.

i.         The rebelliousness and stubbornness of men do not prevent God from accomplishing His will.  Consider Isaiah 55:11.

ii.        Even when men rejected and crucified the Savior, God was still able to raise Him up and accomplish His purpose (John 1:10-13; Acts 2:22-36; Eph. 3:11).

C.      “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who…delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command…” (Dan. 3:28)

                                                             1.      Although governments are ordained by God (Rom. 13:1-5), there are times when God’s people must defy their rulers.

a.       Our first allegiance is to God.  If our rulers require us to sin, then we must rebel.

b.       As Peter said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

                                                             2.      Sometimes it takes an act of defiance to awaken men to the truth.

a.       Nebuchadnezzar’s first decree was for the worship of his false gods.  His final decree was for the honor of the true God of heaven.  It was the defiance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that opened his eyes to the truth about Jehovah.

b.       If we should ever find ourselves in a similar situation, then we must obey God not only for our sake, but also for the sake of others.  One sacrificial act of defiance in the service of God glorifies His name and may result in changes that ease the burden of others.