The King built a large golden statue and commanded that everyone worship it whenever they heard the sound of his musical herald. He ordered that anyone who failed to bow down would be thrown into a blazing furance.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were loyal to the one true God and refused to do so.  Their refusal was reported to the king.  They were arrested and brought before Nebechadnezzar.  He hoped that they would understand the importance of worshipping the golden idol, but even after hearing from their king, the three men still  said no.  They would not deny God.  When the King told him they would be placed in the furnace, they were not afraid.  They told him that their God, the one true God, would protect them even in the deadly furnace.  They refused to worship the image.

Nebechadnezzar was furious.  He ordered that the furnace be heated as high as it could. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were tied up and thrown into the furnace.  The furnace was so hot that the soldiers who brought them to the furnace died!

The king was amazed when he looked into the furnace.  He saw the three men walking in the fire, unhurt, and someone was with them!  The king had them leave the furnace.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not have a single burn, and their hair wasn't even singed!  Because of their faith and courage God sent an angel to protect them in the fire (as Christians, we like to believe that the angel was actually Jesus, although he wouldn't be born as a man until many centuries later).   He was so impressed by the power of their God, Nebechadnezzar decreed that all of the Israelites would be free to worship their God.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego even received a royal promotion!