Daniel 3

Bible study with Dr. Chuck Missler

At the end of Daniel 2, Daniel had successfully translated Nebuchadnezzar's dream and foretold the history of the Gentiles.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR IS ON AN EGO TRIP

Daniel 3:1-12
Fanned probably by his butt-kissing adviser, Nebuchadnezzar's ego about his success got so immense, he went and built the image of his dream except he built the whole thing in gold. He even took it out a step further and demanded that people bow down and worship his image.

Why did those advisers fan Nebuchadnezzar's ego? The text doesn't directly say, but some scholars speculate that they knew this would be one way to get rid of the rising Jewish boys (Daniel and his friends). This theory is supported by how this story continues to unfold.

The advisers went to Nebuchadnezzar and "tattled" on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, about how they refused to bow to the image (which they knew the boys would never bow to foreign gods). They further reminded Nebuchadnezzar about the decree that was sent out, that death is the result of not following orders.

Daniel 3:4
"Nations": Babylon was not just a city state. Nebuchadnezzar was quite the despot who ruled over many cities. Babylon was just the most flourishing of them all. 

GOD DEFEATS THE FIERY FURNACE

Daniel 3:14
Based on the advisers' claims, Nebuchadnezzar asked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to validate those claims.

Now, for those of us who have been under horrible bosses or have about enough historical tyrants, we would be keen to note that this is unusual behavior for a despot like Nebuchadnezzar. He was a king who killed anyone who did not do as he wished. Why did he bother questioning the three Jewish boys about it? Why not just, "off with their heads!"

Nebuchadnezzar was giving them a way out. He favored them and wanted to give them a second chance, to save their lives.

However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood their ground: They would not bow to foreign gods (Daniel 3:15-18). They completely trusted the Lord. If it was God's will to save them, then God will save them. If it wasn't, then they would rather die obeying God's will than live bowing to idols.

Daniel 3:19-23
Nebuchadnezzar's countenance changed when he heard their response, supporting the idea that he started out wanting to give these teenage boys a way out. However, since they stood fast, Nebuchadnezzar was further aggravated and demanded that they be thrown into the furnace, heated up seven times hotter.

Daniel 3:25
The fire did not hurt the boys one bit. Scholars largely believe that the fourth man who walked the boys out of the fiery furnace was the pre-incarnate Christ. This is a more advanced teaching, so I will not dwell on that here.

It is interesting to note that the fire did not harm their bodies, burn a single hair on their heads, or scorch their robes. In fact, there was not even the smell of fire on them (Daniel 3:27). Yet, the fire did burn through their bondage (the ropes that tied them up) (Daniel 3:25).

NEBUCHADNEZZAR PRAISES GOD

Daniel 3:26-30
Nebuchadnezzar summarized the meaning of the event and admitted that he was bested. Again, this is an astonishing thing to expect from a tyrannical despot! To those who like to ponder alternative explanations for how these Jewish boys came out of the fiery furnace alive (for example, how they luckily fell into a cold spot--but then, why wouldn't they smell of smoke?), just bear in mind that this tyrannical ruler who generally kill people before he would ever admit fault praised God for this miracle.

"Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way," declared Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:28-29).

Nebuchadnezzar confirmed that an angel had rescued the teenage boys. As mentioned above, this angel may be a Christophany. It's not as obvious an example as the one recorded in Joshua 5.

It's a huge deal for any proud despot to admit he was wrong, but Nebuchadnezzar did that here. He was definitely impressed by what God did.

People today can say what they want to justify what they want to believe about God's miracles. Once the mind is made up to believe what it wants, it doesn't take much to ignore the facts. Just as people have tried to explain away the parting of the Red Sea, many have also tried to explain away this fiery furnace fiasco. Yet, how many of them care to explain how wheel spokes of Egyptian army carts (coated with gold) dating back to Moses' time have been found at the bottom the Red Sea? And how many of them care to explain how a world renown pagan tyrant king went on record to praise God for the miracles he had witnessed?

I am in awe reading Daniel, and I'm only in the 3rd chapter! There are so many nuances and details tucked deliciously away, and I hope we all can savor the intricacies of God's Word shining brightly through the lives of His saints!