Heroes of the Bible: “Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego”
Randy McLelland
June 26, 2022
Daniel 3:16-30
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; [a]and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Daniel’s Friends Protected
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered [o]by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their [p]coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s [q]command was harsh and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” 25 He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire [r]unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of thegods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the middle of the fire. 27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together andsaw that the fire had no [s]effect on [t]the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their [u]trousers [v]damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants who put their trust in Him, [w]violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or population of anylanguage that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses made a rubbish heap, because there is no other god who is able to save in this way.” 30 Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prosperous in the province of Babylon.¬
Base Camp Discussion Questions
Heroes of the Bible: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
Read Daniel 3:16-30 again.
1 . What is your definition of an idol?
The idols we deal with in our society are not, as a rule, made of gold, but they are very real, none the less.
2 . Think back to when you were a teen/young adult. What were some of the “idols” society held up before us in those days?
3 . Can you name any of those “idols” which are still around today?
4 . What about the “idols” that have surfaced, say, in the last 30 years?
5 . When do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made the decision to NOT bow down to any earthly idols?
6 . How can we, as believers, not fall into an “idol-trap” as we live for the Lord?