Z - Baby Z

There is a story in the Old Testament of the Bible about three young Jewish boys who were taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. If you know the story you may know them as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (for Veggie Tales fans -Shack, Rack and Benny). Not too many people know their real names, for those are their Babylonian names that were given to them when they were taken captive from Judah. Their Jewish, given names are, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These three young men were among many who were told to bow down to a ginormous statue of the king, anyone who did not obey this decree was to be thrown into a fiery furnace. They refused to do so on grounds that they would not bow to any other God but the One True Living God. The king of course did not like this and commanded they be thrown into a fiery furnace. The three men of God were not afraid and said that God would deliver them and if not to let it be known that they do not serve his gods or worship them. Such a bold statement!

The King was so angry that he had the furnace turned up seven times the heat. It was so hot that when the three fully clothed servants of God were thrown into the furnace the kings men were scorched and killed. But as the three fell down in the furnace a fourth figure was seen by the king. Astonished he said, “Look! 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 the Son of God.” They were called out by the king, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." When King Nebuchadnezzar saw that those three faithful men stepped out of that furnace, not just alive but unsinged he believed in their God.

All of this to give a little background on the name Azariah. This is the name of my soon arriving grandson, his nickname is Z. There is so much that my family has been through since last fall, my husband's cancer, my youngest son (father of Z) was in a horrific car accident just after Christmas, he rolled his car three times and walked away with bruising from his seatbelt - ONLY GOD! My older son went through some tough stuff at work, and there were deaths in our family- it was one thing after another. It felt as if we were in the fiery furnace while this baby was being fearfully and wonderfully made in his mother's womb. 

 Azariah means, "Helped by God." How beautiful is that? We have all been through the fire and Jesus has been there, in the fire with us, and we can proclaim that God has helped us all to get through this very trying season.  I can only hope and pray that at least one person will be encouraged to face the fire and know that you are helped by God. We never could have made it without the Lord and all the prayers that went up for us - we know it has been your faithful prayers that have also given us strength.  Thank you so much to all of you reading this who have prayed for us.

I hope you have enjoyed this story and are helped by it. May we all be more kind, caring, empathetic and aware of those who are hurting. 

Pouring hope, 

Nen ♥

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!                - - - Dan. 3:28 

*Thank you for stopping by my blog through this A-Z Challenge and taking the time to read. I have had fun doing it and it has been therapeutic for me as well. I will strive to get better at figuring this blogging thing out and learn to comment on other blogs. I have read many but cannot always post my comments - I will figure that out! 

* To read this fantastic story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah it is in the book of Daniel chapters 1-3.