Many of you know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3. Taken captive and carried to Babylon, these three young Jewish men refused to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue, even though the penalty for not obeying it was to be burned alive.
Some Chaldeans reported them to the king, naming each man, and even reminding the king of the stated punishment.
The king was furious with rage and ordered that the men be brought before him! He gave them one last chance to obey his command to worship the image of gold. But they still refused. They said,
” … our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 NASB (emphasis mine)
Note that this event is mentioned in Hebrews 11, often referred to as “The Faith Chapter.” It teaches us what faith truly is. (See v. 34 specifically)
The men were willing to risk their lives, not just because they believed God would rescue them, but because they trusted God, no matter what happened. Their faith was not in a certain outcome because trusting God for a certain outcome is not faith at all. It is an attempt to take control.
We may convince ourselves that the outcome we want must be God’s will. But that does not make it so. Biblical faith is the ability to let God be God and trust His goodness and love. It doesn’t rest on our efforts to conjure up enough faith to cause the thing we want to actually happen.
The king was so angry that he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual! He had soldiers tie them up and throw them into the furnace. It was so hot that the flames killed the soldiers! But then,
“Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” 25 He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the middle of the fire. 27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or population of any language that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses made a rubbish heap, because there is no other god who is able to save in this way.” 30 Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prosperous in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:24-30 NASB (emphasis mine)
I would like to thank Pastor Michael MacIntyre of Wesley Church in Springfield, Missouri, for inspiring me to write this post based on his excellent sermon, “Understanding Biblical Faith: Trusting God to Be God.” You can listen to it HERE.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
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