When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three Jewish teenagers who walked with God in the midst of a godless society. When King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and carried away captives to Babylon, he singled out Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for royal service. The king was grooming them to be leaders in the kingdom of Babylon, and they were being schooled in all the ways of that twisted, idolatrous culture.
One day, Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden statue of himself and commanded everyone in his kingdom to bow down before it and worship. The penalty for disregarding the king's order was death. So all of the people obediently fell before this image—except for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that is.
The outraged king called them into his presence and gave them one more chance to bow down. But they told him, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty" (Daniel 3:17).
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and thrown into the furnace, heated seven times hotter than usual, as ordered by King Nebuchadnezzar. But as the king watched, he saw not three—but four—men in the furnace, free and walking around.
I believe that Jesus was walking with them through the fire. And Jesus will walk with you through your fire. He will walk with you through your hardships. In Isaiah 43:2 we read, "When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
We are never alone in life. That is the message from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus has always been there, and He said, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Have an awesome week,
Jody
