Additional Thoughts about the Fiery Furnace:

This story shows us a number of things. First we can see the king trying to force all his officials to worship the image he made. This is what is seen outwardly but behind the scenes Satan was using the pride of the king and the jealousy of the other officials to attack God's faithful followers. They were given a choice of being unfaithful to God or being burnt alive. The king challenged both them and God by asking them what god could deliver them out of his hand.

Second we can see the faith, hope and courage of God's faithful overcomers. They believed that God could deliver them out of the king's hand. In other words they believed that God could prevent Nebuchadnezzar from throwing them into the furnace. But even if God did nothing for them they were still willing to be faithful to Him. Thus they overcame in the matter of worship. They would not worship any other god even if it meant they would be burned alive.

Third we see God's way of answering their prayer for protection. God did nothing to save them from being thrown into the fiery furnace. Instead the king made it seven times hotter before he had them thrown in. But when they were in the furnace the Lord was there with them. He kept them not out of their trial but in their trial. This, very often, is still the way God deals with His believers today. Many times He allows sufferings to come but in the midst of those sufferings He is there taking them through.

Finally we see that the result of the overcomers' faithfulness to God was that God was glorified. Even king Nebuchadnezzar had to acknowledge that there was no god like their God who could deliver His faithful servants in such a way.