Nebuchadnezzar states the challenge. “Who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have the answer. “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”

There are two “if” statements here. The church has taken the second if statement and turned it into a statement of doubt and unbelief. If God doesn’t rescue us, know we won’t serve you. It doesn’t quite make any sense. If we aren’t rescued and we’re turned into a pile of ashes, know we won’t serve you! You would have to twist it a little to say, “Even if we knew He wouldn’t save us, we still won’t worship you.”

The two “if” statements parallel each other. The first says, “If this be so.” What is this? Nebuchadnezzar just said they would be cast into the furnace if they didn’t worship the image. They are saying, “If you cast us into the furnace, our God is able to deliver and will deliver us.” It is a statement of faith.

The next verse starts, “But if not.” If that goes with the previous “if,” then it means, “but if you don’t throw us in the furnace,” and they go on to say they won’t worship the image.

God is able. God is willing. God wants to be God. He wants a people who believe He is God. God wants a people who will look to Him for salvation!

And, of course, God proves able and willing and faithful to His servants.

Not only are they saved, but God uses the trial as a blessing. They get to see Jesus. They get unbound by the flames. They get physical blessing from the king and are promoted. They get the experience of going through the fire and it not being able to touch them.

Believe in your God who is strong to save.