Deliverance!

Daniel 3:22-25 (New International Version)

22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

I am not sure in our imagination we can conjure up this scenario, but lets try. First of all the king is absolutely furious that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not worship the image he had set up. Without wavering in their faith one iota, they are steadfast in their convictions. Now I am sure they are not off somewhere that they did not see the flames, smell the smoke or see the furnace. They knew what was coming to them, but they also knew God! What a difference that makes! being delivered or not, hope or no hope, the endless benefits go on forever. So this was their fate, being thrown in the furnace. But (I love that word) the king was about to be surprised or shocked might be a better word. He saw FOUR men walking around, not bound and certainly not burning! And that fourth man, well he just didn't know for sure, but He looked divine. Now this is a marvelous account of Gods protection and purpose for our lives, so lets remember in the fiery trials that will surely come to us, those other Three in the fire with us, is God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit! That makes FOUR. God Bless you today as you remember you are never alone, never!