In Daniel 3 the Bible tells the story of three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who would not worship as king Nebuchadnezzar ordered. The king had ordered all members of his kingdom to worship a statue of gold at an appointed time and those who would not do so would be thrown into a blazing furnace. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to follow the king's order. The king was told of their refusal:
12"But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:12
King Nebuchadnezzar was very upset when he was told this:
13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 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. Daniel 3: 13-23
In our walk to stand in the gap for our spouses, going through a divorce or seemingly unending separation, it often feels like we have been thrown into a blazing furnace. So many things are in turmoil in our lives and the lives of our family. We suffer sadness, depression, loneliness, and heartache. We suffer with financial issues and running a household alone. We suffer from uncertainty, guilt, shame, and abandonment. We feel as though we have been bound because we are powerless to stop a divorce from happening. Yes, it is a blazing furnace of obstacles. A furnace that has been heated 7 times hotter than when we were with our spouses. One could be consumed by it all if one were to give in.
But lets look at what happened with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
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, Your Majesty.”
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.” Daniel 3:24-25
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had put their faith in God. They were not going to bow to the demands of the world over God. They were willing to give their lives rather than give in to the suffering sure to come from the blazing furnace. And the fourth person in the furnace, the Son of God, walked with them and protected them.
The God we serve is able to deliver us too. But even if He does not, we must not give in to what the world pushes on us, namely divorcing, moving on, stop praying for restoration or, stop praying for our spouses to return to the Lord. This is part of our furnace, but the Son of God is with us as well.
A standers walk is not easy. It is like being in the furnace. But, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, if we do not give up on God, we will also walk with God and be unharmed by it all.
Persevere though your furnace through faith in God and prayer. The furnace of divorce or separation cannot harm you when the Son of God is with you.
And do not forget, in the end God saved those who would not give in.
