Bible Story Book by Elsie Egermeier

Author:Elsie Egermeier [Egermeier, Elsie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Warner Press
Published: 2008-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

The Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar grew in power until he was the greatest king in the world. Year after year he added new countries to his kingdom. In every land he was greatly feared. No wonder Nebuchadnezzar became proud of his success.

At his order an idol was made. It was ninety feet tall and was covered with gold. It stood on the plain of Dura where all could see it easily.

When the idol was finished, the king ordered all the officials of his kingdom to come and worship it. Princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs and rulers were commanded to come to the plain of Dura. No one dared disobey. The crowd of officials gathered. Among them were Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. For some reason Daniel was not there.

King Nebuchadnezzar felt even prouder as he looked over the great crowd that had gathered before the idol. At the king’s order a herald called out, “O people of all nations and languages, when you hear the music you must fall down and worship the king’s idol. If you refuse you must be thrown into a fiery furnace.”

The music sounded, and the people fell to their knees. They were afraid to disobey, for none wanted to be killed. All bowed to the ground except three young men. These three stood up boldly. They were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Because Nebuchadnezzar had made these three young men governors, some of the Chaldeans were jealous. As the music sounded, they watched to see whether Daniel’s friends would kneel before the idol. When they saw the young men standing bravely alone among all the kneeling princes and nobles, they hurried to tell Nebuchadnezzar.

They said, “O King, you have decreed that every man should fall down before the idol when the music sounded and whoever refuses would be thrown into the fiery furnace. When the music sounded the three governors, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not obey. They will not worship or serve the golden idol you have set up.”

How angry the king was! At once he ordered that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be brought to him. When they came he asked, “Is it true that you did not bow down?”

The king knew these three were good rulers, and he thought perhaps they had not understood his command. He would give them another chance. “Be ready,” he said, “to bow down when you hear the music. If you do not worship this idol, you will be thrown into the fiery furnace. Then what god will save you?”

Bravely the three Hebrews said, “O King, we do not want another chance. We will not bow down before your idol, for we worship only the one true God. Our God is so great that he can deliver us from your fiery furnace. But even if he does not, we will not worship any idol.”

Now the king was furious! He had even offered to give these young men a second chance to save their lives, but they had insulted him.

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