“And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Daniel 3:19-26, Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.

The scripture refers to an angelic fourth presence; the king recognizes something more, “like a son of the gods.” Some believe that this is the appearance of the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ; in any case it is clearly the presence of the living God that supernaturally protected the lives of these faithful men ready to be consumed by intense heat for Him. No matter the outcome, they were willing to be used by Him to bring glory to His name. And it might not be a spectacular fiery furnace, but simply submitting in humility as the least of servants in washing someone’s feet. Am I ready to submit to His will even in a consuming furnace?

Thank You that You are with us even to the end of the age; help us today to be faithful to all that You call us to do.

ESV Lectionary