The FireSample

The Fire Provides Liberation

Freedom can be defined in different ways. One definition I find interesting is that freedom can be the absence of subjection to a foreign domination. This means it is a state of not being controlled or influenced by something or someone that you do not want to be controlled by.

How do we see freedom or liberation in the midst of a trial or in the fire? It is quite difficult to see any positivity when you feel overwhelmed, consumed, worried and ultimately in a fiery furnace with no way out. Consider our text to see what the young men experienced in their furnace.

Daniel 3:26 - 27, "Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!"

Not only did the young men experience Jesus Himself there with them, they were able to be free and experience freedom in the midst of the furnace. They were thrown into the fire tied up; yet were brought out unbound and with no evidence of even being burned! In other words, the fire provided liberation and freedom. The only thing that burned in the fire was the very thing that had them bound!

Reflection: Is it possible that the fire is allowed in our lives because it only burns that which has us bound? Are we willing to trust God's ability to burn away only the things that are tying us up? What is tying you down?