Fourth Man in the Fire
Written by Tony Paetznick
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
– Isaiah 43:2
Early in my policing career, I joined the local volunteer fire department as a "hobby." A quarter-century later, I’m still fighting fires as a "side-hustle" and enjoy the purposeful work that we accomplish as community members helping our neighbors in their time of need. I’ve served in a variety of roles during those 25 years, but my favorite assignment was Fire Captain. Riding in the right-front seat of the apparatus, it’s the Captain’s job to lead their crew in performing fireground tasks, and none more exhilarating than being the first-arriving engine to a structure fire.
The firefighters from the back seat of the apparatus will assume the first and second positions on the hoseline, one controlling the nozzle and the other managing the thermal imaging camera to help locate the fire or identify a victim still inside. As the "third man in the fire," the Captain will facilitate their advancement whether by tending hose, directing their water application, or otherwise, all while maintaining situational awareness of the smoke-filled and limited visibility environment.
Regardless of if you’re a firefighter, we’re fortunate in the fiery trials of life that we all benefit from having a "fourth Man in the fire." From the Old Testament Book of Daniel – the same Daniel who ends up in the lions’ den – we read of how his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego serve as advisors to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and find themselves inside a blaze.
In friendship and determined to stay true to their beliefs, the trio won’t worship the King’s false gods or golden statue, so Nebuchadnezzar binds and throws them into a fiery furnace. Their answer is one of incredible faith in God: "...we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand." (Daniel 3:16-17). And God does just that!
The King is eyewitness to the awesome power of their God, "I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being." (Daniel 3:25). As a result, Nebuchadnezzar has a change of heart, proclaiming, "...there is no other God who can save like this." (Daniel 3:29). The trio’s faith changes the atmosphere.
Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, rest assured that our God – the same one who was faithful to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – is still faithful to us today. When we walk through the fire, we will not be burned, and the flames will not set us ablaze. Our God is with us and protects us. God might not remove us from the fiery furnace, yet He is in there with us, walking right alongside in our challenges and difficulties. Let God be your "fourth Man in the fire," staying true to His word and submitting yourself to His will for your life.