3 Men in a Fiery Furnace “Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts, offer up your prayers and requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
The First Commandment You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
Our Bible lesson will focus on King Nebuchadnezzar and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed that he was the golden head of a mighty statue, but that the statue itself was in a precarious situation. Anxious for his kingdom, fearful of disloyalty, he decided to strengthen the kingdom with a unifying festival centered on a great obelisk of him. The obelisk was of unusual dimensions, quite striking on a flat plain. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s resistance to bow down to the statue stood out like a sore thumb. Apparently jealous officials, perhaps with something to gain with their fall from the King's good graces betrayed them both by name and religion. The charges made against them were not entirely correct for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego acted not out of lack of respect for the King or disloyalty, but on the basis of their covenant with God. God clearly states in Exodus 20 verses 4 and 5 that we are not to make or bow down to any idols because God is a jealous God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s stand is not contingent on what God will do. They are committed to the Lord and not just what He will do for them - ready to obey the Lord whatever the cost!
Student Lesson Exploring God’s Word Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego Daniel 3:1-30
Daniel 3:1-30 Read from your Bible. Ask students to find it in a Bible too. Those that can read can follow along. Choose the passages you would like to read aloud. Use visuals to help tell the story. Use a picture Bible to help children see the story.
Have you ever had to stand up for what was right when others wanted to do something wrong? The first commandment tells us to love and obey God only. The First Commandment You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue about 9 stories high. Then he told all of his leaders, including Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to bow down and worship the gold statue when the beautiful music played. King Nebuchadnezzar also said that if someone did not worship the statue, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t bow down to the statue because they worshipped God only. The other leaders saw that they did not obey the king and told the king what the 3 men did (or didn’t do.)
The king was furious! He couldn’t believe they would not bow to the statue. King Nebuchadnezzar had the 3 guys brought into the palace and asked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “Is it true that you did not bow down to my beautiful statue? I’ll give you another chance. When the music plays again, if you bow down, nothing will happen to you. But if you don’t, then we’ll see if your God can save you!” (Daniel 3:15)
The 3 men replied to the king, “King, we do not need to defend ourselves. The God whom we serve is able to save us, and He will rescue us from you. But, even if He doesn’t, we want you to know that we will not serve your fake god statue.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
O-o-o-o the king was so angry that he ordered the furnace to be heated 7 times hotter than normal. He commanded the strongest men in the army to tie the 3 up and throw them in. The fire was so hot that it killed the soldiers who threw the men into the fire!
Suddenly, the king rubbed his eyes. “What!” he said, “didn’t we throw 3 men into the fire! I can see 4 people! The three are not tied with rope and the fourth looks like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:24-25)
The king went to the opening of the furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come here!” (Daniel 3:26)
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out. Do you know what? They didn’t smell like smoke at all. Their clothes were not burned and their hair was even singed. The king praised God. He now knew that God was the only true and real God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did a very courageous thing. They trusted God and they stood up for what was right.
Sometimes we have tough choices to make too. We must do what is right no matter what others think. God tells us in the First Commandment that we are to fear, love and trust Him only.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6)
Application Daniel’s friends risked their lives. They chose not to worship idols. They told the king that God could save them, but even if He did not, they would not worship the king’s idol. The king was very angry. Daniel’s friends were thrown into a fiery furnace. They trusted God and God helped them. God wants us to trust Him, too. He will be with us like He was with Daniel and his friends.
Theme Verse: Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.
Lutheran Link The First Commandment You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.
Play It! Bible 4-Square
Supplies Needed: Masking tape Playground ball Questions about today’s Bible lesson Whistle or bell
Prepare for the game: Tape off an area in your classroom to play 4-square. You’ll need 4 squares connected in a large square.
Play the Game: To play 4-square, 4 players stand in different squares. The ball is bounced from square to square. After a short time a whistle is sounded and the person touching the ball must answer a question or tell (with help) a Bible verse from today’ lesson or one of the commandments. Person who answered question is then leader, the other 3 leave and 3 new players enter the square.
Ice Breaker Game: Run, Crazy Chicken, Run!
Supplies Needed: Sheets of paper for commandments or Bible verse words Marker Masking tape
Prepare for the game: Print individual words or phrases of commandments or Bible verse on to single sheets of paper Tape words or phrases to walls around the room
Play the Game: We’re going to play a game called “Crazy Chicken, Run.”
Gather students in the center of the room. When leader says, “Run, crazy chickens, run!” students scatter and run to any sheet of paper that has been taped to the wall. As soon as a child reaches a paper taped to the wall, he or she touches the paper and then freezes into a crazy position.
More than one child may stand by a sheet of paper; however encourage students to spread out so each paper is being touched.
As soon as everyone is frozen, point to the sheet of paper with the start of the commandment or Bible verse and ask student or entire class to read it with you….continue until commandment or Bible verse has been said in its entirety.
Repeat game allowing students to run to a different sheet each time, or put up a new commandment or Bible verse and have them unscramble it. Reinforce It!
Fiery Pictures
Supplies: White paper Tissue paper – red, yellow, orange Glue sticks
Give each child a white piece of paper. Have them randomly glue tissue paper onto their paper.
Write today’s Bible verse on each paper.
“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.” (Philippians 4:6)
The First Commandment You shall have no other gods.
Closing Gather children around you.
Close by saying: Thank you God for loving us every day. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Blessing:May God, who is all around you, Beginning at the bottom of the circle, slowly pour his love upon you.make a large circle with your hands. Finish by bringing your hands down and wiggling the fingers to resemble rain.) And Jesus, his life a sacrifice,Slowly make a large sign of the cross. Then walk right there beside you.move your hands out to the sides. And may God’s Holy Spirit, Cross your hands over the heart. the one who lives inside you, keep you strong, Move to a “strong man” position. Then comfort, lead and guide you!cross your arms with the hands on corresponding upper arms to communicate comfort. Bring one hand forward with “lead” and the other with “guide” to complete the blessing.)
