God's Approach to Victory: Daniel 3:24-25

God frequently wins in such a way as to allow his opposition the opportunity to join Him in victory instead of receiving defeat.  God has already won.  He is already supreme.  Unlike many human competitions, He doesn’t need to squash the opposition.  In His victory, He allows those who oppose Him an opportunity to see His power, humble themselves, repent, and join Him.

Three people go into the fire.  Or was it four?  Shadrach is there.  Meshach is there.  Abednego is there.  Who is the fourth person?

This is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar tries to figure out.  He knows he had three Hebrew leaders thrown into the fiery furnace.  He also knows the fire was hot enough to kill because his own soldiers died getting the Hebrew leaders into the fiery furnace.  Still, he sees four people in the furnace.

The four people aren’t injured.  They don’t seem to be bothered by the heat, either.  The four walk around inside the fiery furnace as if there is no danger.  They aren’t cowering or finding a place to stay cool.  It’s like the fire isn’t even there.

Nebuchadnezzar is astonished.  He knew he was up against God.  That’s why he superheated the fiery furnace.  He gave everything he had power to give.  A space can only keep so much heat before reaching a threshold.  There was no more he could give.

God laughed.

We don’t know if He did, and the Bible certainly doesn’t say He laughed, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all.  I don’t think God would laugh in a mean or vindictive way.  I also don’t think God would laugh in a smug way.  I think God would laugh in a genuine amusement of the idea that Nebuchadnezzar could compete against Him.  In the same moment that Nebuchadnezzar shows respect for the power of God in overheating the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar also shows complete ignorance of that same power.  The idea that we can do something that God cannot overcome is preposterous.

I think that’s why the three men – and God’s fourth addition – stay in the furnace and walk around.  God could have sent lightning down to destroy the furnace.  God could have send a massive storm and cooled the furnace with moisture.  God could have prevented the fire from lighting in the first place.  Instead, God allows Nebuchadnezzar to try his best and then overcomes it with ease.  It’s like God answered Nebuchadnezzar without expending any effort.  Nebuchadnezzar brings his worst and God doesn’t even flinch.

This story is awesome.  God takes what starts as a deathly challenge to His power and allows it to become nothing more than a teaching moment.  God doesn’t smite Nebuchadnezzar.  He certainly doesn’t kill Nebuchadnezzar.  He takes Nebuchadnezzar’s worst, protects His people, and allows Nebuchadnezzar to gain perspective.  That’s genuine power.  God may win, but God frequently wins in such a way as to allow his opposition the opportunity to join Him in victory instead of receiving defeat.