The Fourth Man

"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 3:25

There are few of us who haven't heard the story of the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, in the fiery furnace. The king had decreed that since they would not bow to the image he had created, they were to be put to death. He ordered the furnace to be heated to well beyond its capacity. It was so hot that when the soldiers approached it to throw the three in, they were killed by the flames. Of course, we know the end of the story. The three men survived. They not only survived, but they were not hurt at all. In fact, when they were brought out of the furnace, they had no smell of smoke on them. It is an incredible story. It has been told for countless generations.
    When the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men. Obviously, he had only cast three men into the fire, so where did the fourth come from? He said that he looked like "A son of the gods." Some translations record it this way, "A son of man." It is obvious that whoever the man was, he was not of this world. He was sent by God to protect the men from harm. Some believe the man was an angel, and some believe it was Jesus himself who came to the aid of the men. No matter who it was, the men were miraculously saved. In the same way, we are protected by God himself.
    Sometimes the fire we face is not a physical one. We often face the fire of circumstances. Struggles in relationships, finances or health. The same help that was given to the three Hebrew children is available to us. No matter what the fire is, we have the help of God himself to help us through. We should take comfort in the fact that we are never alone when we face fires of any kind. God promises that he will never leave or forsake us. We may never have to face the fires of a furnace, but we will face fiery times in our lives. There will be a decision that must be made when these times come. Will we cry out to God or try to endure on our own? We are never alone. But if we choose to leave God out of the circumstance, we will indeed face the fire in our own strength. If the three men had not called out to God, they would have surely burned in the furnace. But God was their rescue. He is ours as well.
    Take this encouragement today. If you are facing a fire right now, cry out to God. If you have already done that, then be assured that God is helping. Many times we do not understand that plan of God. Our idea of how the fire should be quenched may be different than his. This does not change the fact that he is with us. He is intimately involved in our lives, our circumstances, and even our fires. When in the fire, trust in God. He will deliver you. When God delivers, you will come out of the fire without even the smell of smoke! His deliverance is sure, his redemption is complete!