Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

Daniel’s three friends, along with Daniel, were taken from Judah to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Israel in 605 BC. Like Daniel, they were trained for three years in the king’s court. Their names were also changed from the Hebrew names of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to the Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar made an idol ninety feet high, which all his officers were to worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused because they worshipped God, so the king had them thrown into a fiery furnace. The furnace was so hot, the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in were killed instantly. Then an amazing thing happened. As the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men walking around instead of three. God sent an angel to be with the three men. They left the furnace unharmed.