July 3, Daniel 3
"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." - Daniel 3:17-18
Is there such a thing as respectful defiance? In one of the most dramatic confrontations in the Bible, Daniel's friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to submit to King Nebuchadnezzar's command to fall down and worship his golden image. What lessons can we learn from this story of courage and deliverance?
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted God so completely that they were able to stand on principle and accept whatever consequences might result from their stand. They took God's promise through Isaiah in the most literal way: "When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." When Nebuchadnezzar asked what god would be able to save them, the brave trio did not hesitate to reply. They expressed their faith that God was able and would deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace. Don't miss that they also expressed their unconditional surrender to the will of God— even if it was not God's will to deliver them, they still would not bow to the idol. What faith! What courage!
Enraged, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace to be super-heated. The fire was so hot that it killed the men who bound and wrapped our heroes in combustible materials and threw them into the furnace. Nebuchadnezzar watched from a safer distance, and saw the brave trio unbound and walking around with a superhuman companion.
Nebuchadnezzar was still giving orders. He went as close as he dared to the furnace door and told Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to come out. They did obey that command and emerged from the fire unscathed. They didn’t even smell like smoke.
Nebuchadnezzar changed his tune from "Who is the god who will deliver you?" to "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trust in him." He even admitted they were right to set aside his own commands rather than disobey their God. And he threatened anyone to even speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
What a testimony to the power of faithful commitment! Because of their brave refusal, a pagan king acknowledged the greatness of Israel's God and protected the Jews from persecution for worshiping the Lord. The exiled remnant could have been swallowed up in the idolatrous culture of Babylon or exterminated altogether for their allegiance to God if not for the influence of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Let's also note that these men were respectful of the king and his authority, even as they defied his orders. They addressed Nebuchadnezzar as "O king" multiple times. They remained calm, but firm in their determination to serve God only. They expressed their faith in the greater power and authority of God without being rude or disrespectful to the pagan king who threatened them.
By their godly conduct and God's miraculous intervention, these men influenced Nebuchadnezzar to protect instead of persecute God's people. When the culture around us is hostile to our faith, we should remember these three faithful servants of God and let their words and actions guide us to honor God and influence others by what we say and do.
Last, what about that fourth person in the fire? Who was walking with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the flames? Nebuchadnezzar said he looked like a son of the gods." Afterward, he said God had sent his angel to deliver them from the furnace. Most believers understand that person to be another appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ. He was with them in the fire.
How much more courageous could you and I be if we truly believed God's promise to never leave us or forsake? Even in the valley of the shadow of death, David was confident that his Shepherd was with him. When we share the faith of these heroes of faith in God's presence with us and within us, we can be more devoted to the Lord. We can face threatening circumstances with courage. Let's thank God that this story of courageous faith, powerful influence and God's abiding presence is in our Bibles!
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—July 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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