One Firey Furnace
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the "head of a statue" in his dream of world leaders, was mighty for sure. Not that he cared for others. Talk about ego! His forces had dragged most of the Jews off to Babylon.
When God enabled Daniel's three friends to become administrators, Babylonian officials were jealous. Meanwhile, the king was so egoistic after the dream, he had a 90-foot image of himself erected. When the music began, everyone was to fall down and worship him.
Not sure where Daniel was, but his three Jewish friends - Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - refused to worship the king. Astrologers went to the king and ratted on them. The king was so furious he threatened to throw his servants into a blazing furnace unless they worshiped him.
They answered that their God was able to rescue them, but even if he didn't, "O king, we will not serve your gods or worship the image..."
The furious king ordered the fire overheated, and the flames killed the soldiers who threw in the men. Then the king in amazement asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men? I saw four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
He called them out of the fire, untouched by the flames and heat. The king immediately gave their God his due and threatened anyone who says anything against him "be cut into pieces and their houses turned into rubble." Just never learned the word "freedom" did he?
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