The Fiery Furnace
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the king's golden statue and are thrown into a blazing furnace. God delivers them unharmed, not even the smell of smoke upon them.
Daniel 3:1-30
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The Story
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in Babylon. He summoned all his officials to come to its dedication. A herald proclaimed, 'As soon as you hear the music, you must fall down and worship the image. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.'
When the music sounded, all the people fell down and worshiped—except three young Hebrews. Some astrologers came to the king and denounced them: 'O king, you issued a decree that everyone must worship the golden image. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the province—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who pay no attention to you. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image you have set up.'
Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He summoned the three men and gave them one more chance: 'Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the image? If you are ready to fall down and worship when you hear the music, very good. But if you do not worship, you will be thrown into the blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?'
Their answer has echoed through the centuries: 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'
Even if He does not. Their faith was not conditional on deliverance. They would obey regardless of outcome.
Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. The strongest soldiers in his army bound Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and threw them into the blazing furnace. The furnace was so hot that the flames killed the soldiers who threw them in.
But then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement. 'Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?' he asked his advisers.
'Certainly, O king,' they replied.
'Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!'
Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the furnace and shouted, 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!'
They walked out of the fire. The officials crowded around them and saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Nebuchadnezzar declared, '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.' He promoted them in the province of Babylon.
The God they served walked with them through the fire. And He walks with His people still.
Three Friends in the Fire
Kids Version
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!
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Scripture — Daniel 3:1-30 (KJV)
1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, aloud: Cald. with might it: Cald. they command
5That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: dulcimer: or, singing: Cald. symphony
6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer , and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. have: Cald. have set no regard upon thee
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? true: or, of purpose
15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19Then 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 one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. full: Cald. filled
20And 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. most: Cald. mighty of strength
21Then 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. coats: or, mantles hats: or, turbans
22Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. commandment: Cald. word flame: or, spark
23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, 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. counsellors: or, governors
25He 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. they: Cald. there is no hurt in them
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. mouth: Cald. door
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. I make: Cald. a decree is made by me any: Cald. error cut: Cald. made pieces
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. promoted: Cald. made to prosper
Memory Verse
“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.”
— Daniel 3:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Fiery Furnace” in the Bible?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the king's golden statue and are thrown into a blazing furnace. God delivers them unharmed, not even the smell of smoke upon them. This story is found in Daniel 3:1-30.
Where is “The Fiery Furnace” found in the Bible?
“The Fiery Furnace” is found in Daniel 3:1-30, in the book of Daniel.
What can children learn from “The Fiery Furnace”?
This story teaches children about Courage, Faithfulness unto death, God's deliverance, Worship, Standing alone. The king made a giant gold statue and said everyone must bow to it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, 'No! We only worship God!' The king threw them into a super hot furnace, but God saved them. They didn't even smell like smoke!