Light in the WaitingThe Three Friends in the Fiery Furnace
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Have you ever had to do what was right when everybody else was doing something else?
The illustrated story
Listen to the story
Read aloud with a generated voice, so little ones can follow along.
Read the story
King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of gold, taller than the trees, and he set it up on a wide plain where everyone could see it shining. Then he made an announcement: when the music plays, every single person must bow down to it.
The music played. All across the plain, people knelt.
But three young men stayed standing. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and they loved God. They were kind and respectful to the king, but they would not bow down to a statue, because they worshiped only God.
The king was furious. He ordered the furnace to be made hotter than usual, and the three friends were tied up and thrown inside.
Then something happened that nobody expected. The king stared into the fire, and his face changed. “Didn’t we throw in three men?” he asked. “I see four, walking around, and they are not hurt.”
“Look! I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed.”
Daniel 3:25
He called them out, and the three friends walked out of the furnace by themselves. Their hair was not burned. Their clothes were not burned. They did not even smell of smoke.
The king who had been so angry now stood in front of everyone and praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the God who sends help into the fire with His people.
What we learn
God is with us when life feels scary. We can choose what is right, and God can help us be brave.
Family prayer
Dear God, help us be brave and faithful. When life feels hard, remind us that You are with us. Amen.
A verse to remember
Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:17
Say it together a few times, then see who can say it alone.
Talk about it together
- Why didn’t the three friends bow down?
- How many people did the king expect to see in the fire?
- What happened when the three friends came out?
Read it in the Bible: Daniel 3:8–30.
Questions or a message for us?
If you have a question about this story, or you would like to share how your family used it, write to [email protected]. We love hearing from readers.
