What does Daniel 3:17 mean?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 1:6–7) showed resolute trust in God. Their earthly king commanded them to worship an idol to prove their loyalty and avoid a gruesome death (Daniel 3:13–15). Yet they refused. Here, the men point out their confidence that God—the One True God of Israel—would keep them safe even from the great king Nebuchadnezzar.Perhaps the Hebrew men recalled God's promise in Isaiah 43:2–3: "When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." They knew how God had delivered His people from Pharaoh's cavalry. Hemmed in at the Red Sea, the Hebrews witnessed God's miraculous deliverance. They crossed the Red Sea safely on dry ground, whereas the pursuing cavalry drowned in its returning water (Exodus 14).
These men are not foolish. They know it's entirely possible—highly likely, in fact—that they will die horribly for defying a pagan king (Daniel 3:18). Yet they exhibit the same faith as Abraham. Hebrews 11:19 explains that when Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1–2), he believed God was able even to raise Isaac from the dead.
Daniel 3:8–18 records an accusation, a confrontation, and a confession. Daniel's three friends (Daniel 1:6–7) are reported to the king by jealous advisors who claim the Jewish men refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image (Daniel 3:1, 4–5). The king offers them an opportunity to disprove the charge, or at least to change their minds. Instead, the three faithful men admit they have not and will not compromise their faith in the One True God. Whether they live or die, they will not worship the false gods of Babylon. This passage is part of the Scriptures recorded in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4—7:28).
Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden idol, possibly inspired by the explanation of his own dream (Daniel 2:36–38). He commands all people to worship it, at a given musical signal, on pain of death. Three Hebrew men openly defy this command and are thrown into a superheated furnace. To his shock, the king sees a supernatural figure with the still-living Israelites. Not only do they survive, but their clothes aren't singed nor even smelling like smoke. The king praises their faith, and their God, commanding that no one speak ill of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
