Daniel 3 is probably one of the most famous stories in the old testament. I can’t count the number of times I’ve probably seen the Veggie Tale’s version of it (the bunny, the bunny...this makes no sense if you haven't seen it). It’s such a crazy story of God’s intervention, that it almost seems unbelievable. How can three God-fearing men survive being thrown into a massive overheated fire pit?

LITTLE OBEDIENCE FIRST

The truth is, it all started in chapter one. Do you remember when Daniel and his crew made a resolution not to defile themselves by eating the food that the king offered them? It was at the beginning of their service for a secular king.

God had brought them into a particular moment of time to serve God in the service of an ungodly king, and instead of being just like everyone else, they decided to stand out from the pack and continue to resolutely follow God. So, by the time chapter three comes around and king Nebuchadnezzar has built this massive golden image that everyone is worshiping, Daniel and his crew know what they are going to do. They don’t pay any attention to it. Follow God in the small things, so that when the big things come around you will be ready.

HE CAN, HE WILL, BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T

The Christian life has many dynamics that seem completely foolish to the world. I think this is understandable because God is massively above and beyond us. If following Him doesn’t cause you to stop and think about how certain things work together, then you probably haven’t been a Christian very long.

Isn’t it a contradiction what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tell the king? They say, “My God is able to save us, my God will….but even if he doesn’t.” If our church’s really believed that theology, we would be unstoppable. They are so confident that God has the power. They know he parted the red sea, they know the story of Jericho, they know about the manna from heaven. God has historically proven himself to these guys. They don’t doubt God’s power in stopping events from happening. Think about the worst event that has happened in your life. If God couldn’t have stopped that from happening, he’s not God.

But he is God, and he didn’t save them from having to go into the fire.

They have a ton of confidence in God’s power, but they also have a strong faith that he will deliver them. I believe this later comes through James’ teaching in the new testament where he says to essentially pray like you already have received your request. Pray with faith. Pray expectantly. If you need a miracle, pray for it. Pray for it and believe that God will do it.

But what if he doesn’t?

Then you have to see the last piece of the puzzle: trust. They say, “even if he doesn’t, we aren’t going to bow down and worship a false God. We already passed on the food you gave us back in the day that was devoted to your idols, we are definitely not backing down now. And if God doesn’t save us, then we still trust him.”

King Nebuchadnezzar thought they were foolish and that he was winning when his command to throw them in the fire was being carried out. Man, he could not have been more wrong. Despite the evil, you could not take away their trust. They trusted God whether Jesus met them inside the furnace or met them inside of paradise.

I want to be that kind of person, that kind of dad, that kind of husband. Those types of people will change our world. Those are the types of people we want our children to be, by God’s Spirit and Lord willing of course. Confidence, faith and trust. I hope that all three of those qualities are increasing in us. May this week’s devotion for your family lead to some great conversations.

Josh Walker (@joshdwalker) is the co-founder and owner of One Fifty Media House, a Houston, TX based Audio and Video Design Team. He is the writer and author of music products such as Family Devo, Grammar Time and Hymns For Selena. He is married to Angela and has two beautiful children: Nathan and Charity Joy.

Day 1: Daniel 3:1-7

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
• A: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[1] King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. [2] Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. [3] Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. [4] And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, [5] that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. [6] And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” [7] Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. - Daniel 3:1-7 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: What did it mean for these people to ‘bow down and worship’ the image the King had created?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Father, help us to worship you and you only. We may not have huge golden images but keep us from the idols that fill our hearts. Make us pure.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 2:  Daniel 3:8-12

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
• A: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[8] Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. [9] They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! [10] You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. [11] And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. [12] There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” - Daniel 3:8-12 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: What made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand out here from the crowd? What did they refuse to do?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Father, help us, as a family, pay no attention to what others would tell us to worship. Keep us focused on loving, worshiping and serving only you.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

DAY 3: Daniel 3:13-18

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
• A: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[13] Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. [14] Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? [15] Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” - Daniel 3: 13-18 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: “God will deliver us out of your hand...But if not... “ Isn’t that a contradiction? What does it look like for us to say "God will, but even if He doesn't"? 

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: God you have all power to save your people. We have faith that do and will. Help us to trust you, even if you don’t answer our prayers the way we’d like you to.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 4: Daniel 3:19-25

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
• A: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. [20] And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. [21] Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. [22] Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. [23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

[24] Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” [25] He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” - Daniel 3:19-25 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: Who was in the furnace with the men?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Father, help us to have incredible faith to trust you when our lives are on the line for following you.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 5: Daniel 3:26-30

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
• A: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[26] Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. [27] And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. [28] Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. [29] Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” [30] Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. - Daniel 3:26-30 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: How did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego look and smell when they came out of the fire? How did the king change his tune?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Father, you are more powerful and love us more than we could ever imagine. Thank you for being our Father who we can trust with our lives.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

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