Episode 72 - The Daniel Series: Out Of The Fire

Daniel 3’s blazing furnace and the unburned trio offer more than a miracle—they reflect how we face pressure, pain, and public scrutiny today, revealing the difference between admiring God from afar and trusting Him intimately in the midst of the fire. Nebuchadnezzar’s praise uncovers a hard truth: respect isn’t surrender. As officials find no smoke or scorch, the king’s decree masks a heart that hasn’t fully embraced God personally. We explore how God often meets us within suffering rather than removing it, reframing healing and hope by anchoring us in His presence when outcomes disappoint. This story teaches how faith perseveres beyond results, how courage passes through generations, and how one act of trust builds resilience—offering grounded encouragement to move from observing God to owning faith. Subscribe, share, and leave a review with your own story of faith amid fire to inspire others.

Please take advantage of our FREE resources below to help you along your health and healing journey:

The Bible App HealingStrong Bible Plans

Support Group Directory

Listen to Previous Episodes

Holistic Curriculum - Participant Guide

Refresh Your Spirit

Support Our Mission - Donate

Please visit our website at healingstrong.org to learn more about our mission and visit our groups tab to learn more about our community groups.

HELP US GROW:

Your donation enables us to continue offering this podcast and other resources for free supporting those facing cancer and chronic illness, caregivers and others. Every donation makes a big difference. Please donate here.

Transcript

Welcome And Study Setup

SPEAKER_02 0:02

He's acknowledging the greatness of God and the existence of God, but he has not made him his own personal God. And we have a lot of people, I think, maybe in the same situation today. They may acknowledge, yes, I think there's a God. I see what he does in other people's lives, and I think that's fine. I have no problem with that. But there has to come a point in time when you have to decide, is he going to be your God?

Reading Daniel 3:26–29

Nebuchadnezzar’s Response And Decree

SPEAKER_03 0:30

Well, hey guys, this is Cheryl, and you're listening to Healing Strong's Around the Word. We are a group of friends that sit around the table and talk about God's Word and what treasures we're seeing in it. Today we're studying the book of Daniel, chapter 3, verses 26 through 29. So join us around the word. Daniel chapter 3, verses 26 through 29. Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out. Come here. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. And the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Nebednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants. They trusted in him and defied the king's command, and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any God except their own God. Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Nebednego be cut into pieces, and their houses be turned into piles of rubble. For no other God can save in this way. Before we listen to what Angie, Marin, and I were discussing around the word in the book of Daniel, here's a quick testimonial from Stacy, one of our Healing Strong Jumpstart participants. Stacy says, What a blessing to connect with and hear from believers who also communicate ways of dealing with cancer by whole foods and natural means. And I am glad that Stacy got something out of that jumpstart event. Anyway, let's get back to the table and around the word. Previously on Out of the Fire, no, just kidding. Um, they really did. We're we're now at the part where they come out of the fire. And again, we said that they uh nothing was burnt, nothing. So what is the king's reaction to all of this?

SPEAKER_02 3:04

Well, he he finally makes um a wise statement, I guess, of all the things he said in the past. He finally says, Um, praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants. They trusted in him and defied the king's commands and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any God except their own God.

SPEAKER_01 3:32

Even he is praising God after this situation, seeing what God did for them. This pagan king is praising the God.

SPEAKER_02 3:44

Because we know the scripture tells us that every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

And he even says, Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cut into pieces, and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other God can save in this way.

Public Witness After The Miracle

SPEAKER_03 4:09

And uh in our Bible, it's no other G-O-D, because we know for a fact there is no other God. There's only the one true God. A little G, a little G. Yeah, the little God. Cool. So he's got a bunch of people that they they are surrounded by people that just saw an amazing miracle. Yeah.

When The Fire Doesn’t End Well

SPEAKER_01 4:28

Think about that. If you're going through something really terrible and you come out on the other side, God will be glorified in front of everyone, not even just those that were supporting you in your your walk, your decision, but even the pagans around you, the people that were naysayers will see.

SPEAKER_03 4:47

What do you say to that person that went through a personal fire and it didn't go the way they hoped? What would you say to that person?

From Observing God To Owning Faith

SPEAKER_02 4:54

It may still be a part of a setup. In other words, it ain't over yet. And there could be more trials in the future, but the end result, somehow, some way, is that all things will work to the good. But it's God's plan and God's good. Not Angie's, not Maren's, not Cheryl's plan, but God's plan. So sometimes when things look horrible for us, it as a part of his plan, it may have caused or put into action an incredible thing in somebody else's life, and we never even know it. And I just, you know, I was thinking about Nebuchadnezzar still doesn't s acknowledge that um their God is his God. He's still he's referring to the praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants. So he's still, and then later he says, um, nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble. So um he's acknowledging the greatness of God and the existence of God, but he has not made him his own personal God. And we have a lot of people, I think, maybe in the same situation today. They may acknowledge, yes, I think there's a God. Um, I see what he does in other people's lives, and I think that's fine. I have no problem with that. But there has to come a point in time when you have to decide, is he going to be your God?

God With Us In The Fire

SPEAKER_03 6:38

I think you know, I what I think is cool too is the thought of when Daniel got to see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego again. I don't know if you've personally witnessed this fire or not, but can you imagine that conversation, what that must have been like? Because look how it even gave Daniel later resolve and confidence to go face a den of lions. I mean, this the action of these three men just the word got out. I mean, we're still learning about them today. How many times have you talked about, you know, being in the fire or whatever, or there's another one in the fire? There's a song about that. There's another in the fire standing next to me. I forgot who sings that. But um I think the good reminder from this story, too, is even when they're we're in the middle of that fire, we are not by ourselves. God is with us in the middle of the fire.

SPEAKER_02 7:38

And he didn't prevent them from being put in the fire, and he didn't put out the fire, he was with them through the fire.

Encouragement And Closing Resources

SPEAKER_03 7:49

That is such a great observation from Angie that God did not put out the fire. I don't think that had really ever dawned on me. And I just find that fascinating. So sometimes there are times in your life where you will have to endure the fire, but he's gonna be with you. And that's what we can learn from this story. I hope that encourages somebody out there today that's listening and needs to know that God is with them and will get them through this fire. Anyway, thank you so much for joining us for Healing Strong's Around the Word podcast. I hope you are encouraged to dig deeper into God's Word and you're reminded of his faithfulness. Hey, if you'd like to learn more about Healing Strong in our amazing organization, just check out our website, HealingStrong.org. That's where you're gonna find a lot of resources, support groups that can help you or a loved one that's in their own healing journey, and you can find ways to connect with others in our community. Until next time, remember, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.