The+Fiery+Furnace

=The Fiery Furnace=

Summary:
King Nebuchadnezzar decided to have a golden statue built of his god. He summoned all the provincial authorities and made an announcement to all the people that if they didn’t prostrate and worship the golden statue when they heard the music they would be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. When the music was played everyone bowed, except three Jewish guys. They were named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. The king then heard of the rebels and became very mad. The three men were brought before the king. He asked them if it was true that they refused to serve his gods and if they refused to worship the golden statue he had made. He told them that if they refused again they will be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. They refused, and he got extremely angry. The king became so mad that he ordered the furnace to be seven times hotter than usual. They were then thrown into the fire. The king watched with his advisors as the men were thrown into the furnace. Instead of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, being burned they were walking around in the furnace with an angel. The king saw this and questioned if he put four men in the furnace. The advisors said he didn’t, so then he called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego to come out of the fire. They came out with not a scratch on their bodies and no burns on their clothes. The king was amazed at how their god delivered. So he announced to all the people to worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He said that if the people didn’t follow his rule he will have the person torn limb from limb and the person’s house into a dunghill. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were showered with gifts from the king. The themes in this story are tradition, culture and religion, survival and sacrifice, and an aspect of light and darkness.

[|Veggie Tales Fiery Furnace]

Discussion Questions:
1. Q: Why do you think that the power and fury of the king are described in such detail? 2. Q: Why do you think God decided to save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the burning fiery furnace? 3. Q: Why do you think God lets people believe in other gods if he wants people to have only him as a god? 4. Q: Why do you think that God let Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego even go into the fiery furnace if he was just going to save them? 5. Q: Do you think that the King was trying to overcome the belief in god? 6. Q. How would you feel if you were the King in this situation?

Supplementary Material:
How did the author portray god in this story? How do you think the author wanted you to view King Nebuchadnezzar?

Outside Material:
[|Extra Information about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego]









Study Guide/Quiz Questions:
How wide and how high did King Nebuchadnezzar have the golden statue made? Who did King Nebuchadnezzar send for? What infuriated the King? When did the people have to bow down to the statue ?