From the Book of Daniel

When Daniel had revealed his dream to him King Nebuchadnezzar had given lip service to Daniel's God. Yet he failed to understand that there was only one God and one God alone and that no other god should be worshipped. Sometime after the dream Nebuchadnezzar set up a huge idol of gold ninety feet high and nine feet wide. Fashioned, no doubt, after the image that he had seen in his dream he ordered all the officials of the provinces, not including Babylon itself, to be present for the dedication of that image. On the big day the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, Oh peoples, nations and men of every language. As soon as you hear the band began to play you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace!"

As soon as they heard the music people fell down and worshipped the image of gold which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. But some jealous astrologers, who didn't like these Jewish lads who the king had appointed to such high positions, went to the king. "O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the music must fall down and worship the image of gold and whoever doesn't fall down will be thrown into a blazing furnace. Well, we know some young men you have put over the affairs of the provinces of Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are their names. These men pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."

Angry with their disobedience, but willing to give them a second chance, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah and demanded of them, "Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold that I have set up? Now, at the sound of the music if you will fall down and worship the image I made well and good, but, if not, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

These young men who had been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and trained in all the ways of the land could have reasoned that God understood their predicament. That they could bow the knee while still worshipping the true God in their heart. But such an idea never entered their minds. "O Nebuchadnezzar, we don't need to defend ourselves before you in this matter," they told the king. "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah dared to stand up to the king because they had faith that God would rescue them from Nebuchadnezzar, if not in this life then in a future resurrection.

Nebuchadnezzar, who seemed to have a short fuse when crossed, was furious with their response. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded his strongest soldiers to tie up the three men. The soldiers then dragged Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to the furnace. As the three bound prisoners fell into the blazing furnace the soldiers who had pushed them in were overcome with the intense heat and keeled over dead.

Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were taken right to the line. Yet they stood their ground and allowed themselves to be thrown into the blazing furnace rather than bow down before a manmade god.

King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet, his jaw dropping. "Weren't three men tied and thrown into the fire?" he demanded. "Certainly," those about him agreed.

"Look!" the king ordered pointing to the furnace. "I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!"

Nebuchadnezzar went as near to the fire as the heat allowed and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"

At his summons the three young men came out of the fire and everyone crowded around them. People were amazed to find that the fire hadn't seemed to have done them any harm. Not a hair of their head was scorched, their clothing showed no signs of damage and there wasn't even the smell of smoke about them!

"Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!" Nebuchadnezzar cried. "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. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble, for no god can save in this way!"

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.