Three Friends in the Fire

King Nebuchadnezzar had a big idea. He built a HUGE golden statue—as tall as a nine-story building! Then he made a rule: 'When you hear the music, EVERYONE must bow down and worship my statue! If you don't, you'll be thrown into a blazing hot furnace!'

When the music played—horns, flutes, and harps—everyone bowed down. Everyone except three young men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They stood up tall.

Some people ran to tell the king. 'Those three Jews won't bow! They won't worship your statue!'

The king was SO angry! He called the three friends to him. 'Is this true? I'll give you one more chance. When the music plays, BOW DOWN! If you don't, into the furnace you go! And no god can save you from that!'

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were very brave. They said, 'O king, our God CAN save us from the furnace. But even if He doesn't, we still won't bow to your statue. We only worship the one true God!'

Now the king was REALLY mad! 'Make the furnace SEVEN TIMES hotter!' he yelled. It got so hot that the soldiers who threw the three friends into the fire got burned up!

But then something amazing happened! The king jumped up and said, 'Wait! Didn't we throw THREE men into the fire?'

'Yes, O king.'

'Then why do I see FOUR men walking around in there? And they're not even tied up! And they're not burning! And the fourth one... he looks like a son of the gods!'

God had sent an angel—maybe even Jesus Himself—to protect them IN the fire!

The king shouted, 'Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego! Servants of the Most High God! Come out!'

They walked out of the fire. Everyone gathered around them. They weren't burned! Not even one hair on their heads was singed! Their clothes weren't burned! They didn't even SMELL like smoke!

The king said, 'Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel and rescued His servants! They were willing to die rather than worship a false god!'

God protected His faithful friends. And He will protect us when we choose to obey Him too!