What is God Doing Now? Pt 4

The roar of the crowd was deafening. Heat from the kindled fire could be felt from miles away. Beads of sweat protruded from the brows of 3 gentlemen, dropping to their chest. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego mopped what they could of the perspiration but it was soon replaced by new sprouts. “Renounce your God”, a spectator cried out loudly as they were led to the fire. “You can always pick Him back up when you are forgiven by our King. If He is such a good God, maybe He will forgive you for renouncing him in duress”. Bound in chains, they proceeded closer to the fire – heated 7 times above normal – that was built to consume them for their refusal to bow before the King’s image. Earlier they had said to the King:

O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up – Daniel 3:16-18

 

This was by far, the darkest moment of these three men of noble birth. They were only seconds away from being executed. “Recant! Recant!!”, the crowd jeered. “Seek forgiveness of the King”, another section yelled. The commotion that engulfed the atmosphere was surreal. Women crying with deep anguish as though their own children were led to the slaughter. In the midst of all these, the 3 men thought different. They thought: “What is God doing now? Surely, God was privy to this day coming and we are certain He has our best interest at heart. We are certain, in life or in death, in success or in failure, He will show Himself strong. We don’t know exactly what He is doing but He is up to something”.

 

Onwards they went. The soldiers leading them began to drop dead one by one due to dehydration from the extreme temperatures. The lads kept moving forward. No tears, no smiles, just a simple question resonating in their hearts: “What is God doing now?”. The closer they got to the flames, the lesser they felt it’s effect. As they got in, they found waiting for them, a man with a divine appearance . They proceeded to fellowship with him as the mob became a blur. Shortly there after, they saw the flames around them being doused. They heard the King order them out. The King decreed that no person ever should say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The lads alive, were promoted instantly – again. That was what God was doing. He was ensuring no one could use the power of the State to denounce Him in that era and He was also promoting the 3 gentlemen who put their trust in Him. God is using the trying times you are currently going through to promote you. Have you asked: “What is God doing now?”