The pastor of my Church has been conducting studies in the book of Daniel. When we got to chapter three where King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and invited his subjects to attend the dedication ceremony. The king also made a decree that every man on hearing the sound of the music “shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship and be cast into a burning fiery furness.” (Daniels 3:10,11).
Among the so-called worshippers were Daniel’s three Hebrew companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who bluntly refused to serve the king’s gods or worship the manmade idolatrous golden image he ordered. It was subsequently brought to the king’s attention that these three young men refused to worship the golden image he had set up.
In his reaction, a furious, disappointed, and perhaps frustrated King Nebuchadnezzar, decided to give the men a second opportunity to worship the image with the challenge that if they failed to do as he instructed, they would be cast into a burning fiery furnace. “And who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”
Unwavering in their resolve, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded to the king, “We have no need to answer you in this matter. 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 3:15-18). How courageous a response.
Nebuchadnezzar then ordered the furnace to be heated “seven more times than it was usually heated.” “And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.” (v. 20). “Then, these men were bound in their cloaks … were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.” (v. 21). “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?”
He continued in his astonishment, ”But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (vs. 23-25). The three men subsequently walked out of the fire unscathed. Their God delivered them.
Nebuchadnezzar fully realized that a miracle had taken place, which caused him to exclaim, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God”(v. 28).
This is a most amazing and surprising statement from King Nebuchadnezzar who was definitely intent on killing his subjects in a fiery furnace because they took a firm stand by openly resisting and refusing to obey his order.
In addition to recognizing God’s deliverance of His servants, the king makes this decree concerning the young men. “Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.“ (v. 29). Nebuchadnezzar also “promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” (v. 30).
A great lesson can be learnt here. If we trust God with sincerity and commitment, He will never disappoint or abandon us. Granted we may never experience a situation exactly like Daniel’s companions who had to make a very serious decision pertaining to death or life.
The pastor presented a challenge with the following two categories: “Even if” or “Only if.” By choosing the “even if” category means I am resolved to trust God all the way whatever He desires for me. On the contrary by choosing the “only if” category means I will only accept what I desire and not what God desires.
These two categories test our personal commitment to our faith in God. No matter our circumstance, we must always remember that God will always make a way even when there seems to be no way. We must fully trust God and His word and leave the outcome entirely to Him. He has declared: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Also, just before Jesus ascended, He told His disciples. “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20).
The same God who delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is our God today, who remains faithful and completely reliable. He keeps his word and we can surely claim His promises. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for God to fail. Trust God today and believe His word. Amen.