TODAY IN THE WORD
Rudyard Kipling was reading the newspaper one day when he discovered a story he was certain was completely untrue. He immediately called the newspaper's office to report the misprint. He said, “I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers.”

Any news of the deaths of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Babylon that day would have been quite premature. Those escorting them into the furnace had died from the intense heat, but Daniel's friends were, as King Nebuchadnezzar put it, “walking around in the fire” (v. 25). He had expected to see three burning corpses but instead saw four perfectly unharmed individuals, one of whom appeared to be a god.

Nebuchadnezzar may not have been a godly king, but he didn't deny the power of Yahweh. He rapidly switched from intense rage to amazement and then to high esteem for the Lord, referring to the men as “servants of the Most High God” when he beckoned them from the furnace (v. 26).

As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire, the gaze of the Babylonian leadership shifted. Just as at the beginning of the chapter, the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers fixed their collective gaze on one place—but this time the ninety-foot statue was a distant afterthought. Now the leaders all wondered at the handiwork of a higher King. The Lord had saved His servants by His mighty hand, and everyone who was anyone in Babylon was there to see it.

Nebuchadnezzar summed up their faith (v. 28), and amazingly showed no hostility to their strict obedience to their God. He turned that hostility toward anyone who had anything bad to say about the one true God, threatening violent and extensive wrath to anyone who violated this new decree—apparently, Nebuchadnezzar wasn't a big fan of moderation. In one day he gave a religious ultimatum, cast the first violators into a furnace, then promoted them, and issued a new religious ultimatum that directly contradicted the first. Only God can cause such a dramatic change.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Nebuchadnezzar underwent a spectacular change of heart in response to God's power, but the miracle would not have happened if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego hadn't shown such humility, conviction, and courage. Think of someone in your life who has a heart hardened against God. One of the best ways to bring about change in someone else is to commit your heart to serving God alone. Show love and respect, and also show what it means to obey God. Let Him take care of the miracle.

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