Daniel 3
From Nebuchadnezzar's Chronicles
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My name is Nebuchadnezzar. I am the king of Babylon. My dominion is vast and we are powerful.
My army conquered the Jews from Judah and took them as captives. I chose a few of their smartest young men to serve in my court and gave them positions of honor. I expect a lot from them. Most of all, I expected their obedience.
Three of the men did not obey me. I became so angry that these Jews dared to defy me that I ordered the fiery furnace heated seventy hotter to punish them.
Do you know what those three men did? They didn't beg for their lives. They didn't weep. At least they didn't have a defiant face. They stood respectfully and accepted the punishment. I've never encounter such a problem. Usually watching men beg pleased me.
To make matters worse, my best guards died when they pushed the three men into the furnace. I thought all of that was bad enough, but when I watched the three men fall into the fire, they didn't burn. They stood up and walked around talking with each other, unharmed. The ropes we used to tie them up had fallen off.
And then a fourth man appeared. He looked like a son of the gods. I have no idea where he came from.
These men had to be servants of the Most High God. I went to the opening of the furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
The three men walked out. They didn't limp or rub their arms. The satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They walked around the three men and inspected them.
"They have no injuries," said one.
They touched their hair. "The hair on their heads is not singed," said another.
They felt their robes and rolled the fabric in their hands. "Their robes are not scorched."
They sniffed the air around the men. "They have no smell of fire on them! How can this be?"
I was as amazed as my advisors and realized there could only be one answer to explain this miracle. I said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They have trusted in him and defied my 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 says 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."
I turned to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. "I am promoting each of you to a new position in the provide of Babylon."
The three men surprised me again. They didn't rejoice, or say 'I told you so', or give a disrespectful look of victory. No, they each kept their wise looks of respect. Huh. After seeing what had happened, I guess I really did expect them to respond this way. Their dedication to their God really shows.
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1. Nebuchadnezzar is the king of _____________
2. Who were the three men who did not obey the king?
3. When the Nebuchadnezzar ordered the 3 men into the furnace, how did they act?
4. What happened while they were in the furnace?
5. Why did Nebuchadnezzar let them out of the furnace?
6. What didn't their hair feel like?
7. What didn't their robes feel like?
8. What didn't the air around them smell like?
9. What did Nebuchadnezzar decide from this information?
10. What did Nebuchadnezzar decree?
11. What was the last surprise?
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