The Other Man in the Fire

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 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. 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. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 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. (Daniel 3:19-25)

The truth is that often God does not rescue us from the fire but goes with us through it. These young men stayed faithful to God and refused to obey the king’s demands blindly, so the furnace was heated seven times hotter than usual. Similarly, when you are faithful to God, the enemy tries to increase the pressure on you. However, the fire did the opposite of what the enemy intended; the believers weren’t burned, but everything binding them was destroyed. That’s the miraculous power of God at work! What the enemy aimed to use to destroy you, ends up setting you free. When the king looked in, expecting these faithful servants to be ashes, he instead saw them walking around in the furnace with a fourth man in the fire. They thought He was an angel, but I believe it was Jesus. The king was so shocked by this sight that he ordered them to be taken out. As they came out, the king and all the officials who had accused them realized there wasn’t even a smell of smoke on them. When God delivers you, He ensures there’s no trace of trauma left.

Practical Application

There is a fourth man in your fire, and His name is Jesus. 

Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 91:3