BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

But the Bible says, “And to God the Lord belongs escape from death [setting us free]” (Psalm 68:20, AMP). God provided that escape for these three faithful servants. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he jumped up and asked his counselors: "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt! And the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods! Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, [Nebuchadnezzar started speaking respectfully all of a sudden] come out and come here. [They] came out from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, the deputies, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered around together and saw these men—that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed; neither were their garments scorched or changed in color or condition, nor had even the smell of smoke clung to them" (Daniel 3:24-27, AMP). I’m telling you, these three men didn’t just escape the furnace alive; they came out without a hair on their head singed. They didn’t even smell like smoke. When Nebuchadnezzar saw what had happened, he said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him” (verse 28). Even Nebuchadnezzar realized that because these men had trusted God, He had sent an angel to protect them. Daniel in the Lions’ Den Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s experience wasn’t an isolated incident either. God did the same for Daniel. You probably remember the story. The king had been trapped by wicked men into sentencing Daniel to death. Daniel’s only crime was prayer, and the night he was thrown into the lions’ den, the king was grieved. "Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me" (Daniel 6:18-22). Some Bibles include a picture illustrating that story. It shows Daniel asleep and the lions asleep at his feet. I like that! It reminds me that Daniel slept better in the lions’ den than the king did at the palace. Daniel was at peace because an angel of God protected him. The prophet Elisha experienced the same kind of protection. Second Kings 6 tells of a time when he and his servant were surrounded by the Syrian army. His servant panicked. “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” the servant cried (verse 15). Elisha looked out at the horses and chariots of that great, hostile army and said, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (verse 16). He didn’t pray, “Lord, help us! Protect us! Keep us!” He was so steadfast in God’s deliverance and protection that he simply said, “I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (verse 17). Elisha could see in the spirit. He saw not only the enemy army, but horses and chariots of fire and angels encompassed about him. There were more angels than there were natural soldiers. Those angels were ready to bring the deliverance Elisha needed. Peter Delivered From Prison We can see angels at work in the New Testament too. In Acts 12, for example, we see Peter in prison. James had been killed and Herod was planning to kill Peter the next day. “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands” (verse 7). Notice that Peter was a man of faith. If you thought they were going to cut your head off the next morning, I doubt you would be sleeping so soundly that an angel would have to hit you to wake you up. 22 : BVOV : APRIL '14

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