Daniel 3:17-18
New International Version
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.But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
For Encouragement
Imagine being young and far away in a foreign land, a situation many of us can relate to. Now, imagine how you got there, a story that might be filled with personal trauma. Exile is no fun, and it changes the trajectory of many lives in different ways. This was the situation Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego found themselves in, in Babylon.
Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, handpicked them for royal service in the Babylonian king’s court (Dan.1:3-5). With their prayer support, Daniel interpreted the king’s dream that no one could (22:17-18, 27-49). Now, the same king demanded they bowed to a golden statue he had raised on the plain of Dura (3:13-15). Jerusalem was fresh in their hearts, and the worship of any other god apart from Yahweh was anathema to them. But there was more to consider.
Now, imagine the king raising an enormous oven to roast all non-conformists alive. The three Hebrew boys, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego, were faced with a choice. Do they bow to the image of King Nebuchadnezzar, or do they maintain the sanctity of their faith in Yahweh by refusing to bow? The stakes were high, and their decision would have far-reaching consequences.
The three’s decision brought them before the king for interrogation. Give it to Nebuchadnezzar here—he verified the truth first and allowed them to change their recalcitrance before condemnation (13-15).
They would do well to fall and worship the image the king had made. But he would throw them into a blazing furnace if they did not worship it. Then what god will be able to rescue them from his hands?
Every astute Christian will face such a challenge in this world. It comes down to where our loyalty lies and the resilience of our faith in the only God who alone is able to deliver His people from any and every situation.
What the three said to the king is classic godliness—the attitude of faith in our Lord that every Christian must exhibit in every situation, everywhere—the perennial “What if” that haunts all of us.
The three Hebrew boys showed unwavering faith and loyalty to the Lord. They declared, “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. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
That is it! The declaration of absolute trust in Yahweh to deliver them from the fire while holding high His sovereignty, for our example.
The world and its leaders tell us to love it and demand that we yield to its standards. They have imposed consequences for non-compliance. But God says we must have no other gods before Him or bow down to them (Exodus 20:2-3). He is a jealous God who frowns on our disobedience. Our challenge is who to obey. Who you trust at such critical moments will reveal who your God is.
So, how has your faith stood in the face of such intense trial and suffering this week? This is a question that invites deep introspection, a reflection on the strength of our faith in challenging times.
Something to ponder as we go into this weekend.
Through the Eyes of the Spirit 