Newsflash: Teenagers Escape Death in a Furnace

    The Empire of Babylon goes into a frenzy as teenagers thrown into a blazing furnace miraculously steps out unharmed.

    The Hebrew boys who go by the names Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah [HM'n'A] were reportedly cast into a furnace on the plains of Dura, Babylon. The reason being that they refused to disobey the commandments of the Jewish God and worship King Nebu's statue of gold. The commandment in contention here reads thus

               "You must not have any other god but me". [Exodus 20:3].

 In response to the King's second chance to worship the image, HM 'n' A said

"Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up O King. But even if He doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of  difference, O King. We still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up." [Dan. 3:16b-18; TMB].

    This was said to have gored the ego of Babylon's supreme leader. He commanded that the furnace be heater seven times hotter than before. Then he had the boys tied and thrown inside.

     The expectation of King Nebu was cut short as these boys were suddenly not alone. Their God had sent a visitor -whom as the King described, "is like the son of God". [Dan.3:25]- to accompany them! And as a result, the fire only burnt the ropes used to tie them. 

      So, like royals stepping out of a jacuzzi, HM 'n' A walked out of the fire unhurt. An official of Babylon, Adviser Abedmarduk stated with wide eyes

 "Not a single hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke!" [Dan. 3:27].

     This prompted King Nebu to declare praises to the God of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah saying "There is no other god who can rescue like this".          

Commentary

HM 'n'A had a series of excuses that could have justified them bowing to the idol. Excuses ranging from:

•We will fall but not worship;

•We will ask for forgiveness later;

•This is a foreign land, God will understand;

• We're hurting nobody by bowing down; et cetera. 

Sensible yeah? But they are dangerous realizations. Bowing down would have violated God's command and also erased their testimony for God forever. 

Now what is your own excuse for not standing up for God?

Reporting, 

The Distinguished.