God Is With Us In The Fire

Daniel 3:25

‘He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."’

Daniel’s friends in the passage are in a furnace. They have stood up to King Nebuchadnezzar, refused to worship his gold statue and so they have been thrown into a furnace. Surely a death sentence? As we find out God protects them and each one of them comes out unharmed. What is more amazing though is that in the furnace with the three friends is another man that King Nebuchadnezzar says looked like the ‘son of the gods’. Now there is a debate on who this fourth figure is: some think it is Jesus, others have suggested it is an angel. But what is clear is that God sends someone to be with them in the fire. 

Throughout the Bible we see how God again and again draws close to his followers in times of need. God sent Jesus, his Son, to be ‘God-among-us’ and he sends his Holy Spirit to be present to everyone who receives him.

For Daniel’s friends within the heat of the furnace, in the chaos, when they are trapped and afraid, they know that God is with them. What I find significant is that God didn’t miraculously take them out of the furnace; rather he stood with them, in the heat, within the fire.

Isn’t this comforting? God draws close to us when we are ‘in the fire’. He won’t necessarily take us out of these horrible situations but Jesus comes right into them. When we feel trapped and afraid, he stands with us. He doesn’t stay distant or far off. No, he is next to you.

If you are in pain today, feeling trapped, alone and unsure of the way out. Know that the Lord is with you. That he loves you and that he is with you with whatever is going on.

Prayer – When we are trapped, afraid and in need of help: Thank you Lord that you are standing with us. Please can I know more of your presence in my life today.