Daniel And The Furnace

Daniel And The Furnace

Daniel And The Furnace

WHY WASN’T DANIEL CAST INTO THE FIERY FURNACE WITH SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO?

All right, in Daniel chapter 3, here’s Nebuchadnezzar putting up his image to worship himself (verse 3). And, you’ll notice in chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are the only ones who get into hot water (or a hot furnace!), and Daniel doesn’t get burned. So the question comes up, where was Daniel? Did he bow down?

And the answer is in Daniel 2:49: “Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon.” They’re out in the province (2:49), “…but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”

So Daniel is not required to bow down.

In chapter 3, verse 4: “Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet…” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego are out over the provinces, ruling with the people, and when the dedication comes, they come with the people. But Daniel is right up there with the king.

Then the question comes up, Why didn’t Daniel say something? And the answer to that is, Daniel had already had his baptism by fire back in chapter 2, when he led them and got them off the king’s meat (chapter 1), got them on pulse (chapter 1), interpreted the king’s image and dream in Daniel 2. And, like the old proverb says, “Every tub shall stand upon its own bottom,” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have to earn their own spurs. So they earn them.

And there’s one more thought, that’s real upsetting. Look at chapter 2, verse 46. Daniel couldn’t have opened his mouth! Look at 2:46; he let that king worship him! See there? Boy! He couldn’t have opened his mouth! If Daniel had said, “What?” the king would have said, “`What’ nothing! You let me bow down to you!”