Hope in the fiery furnace

Monday devotions @work 5 October 2020
People of Hope Part 22: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego

In Daniel 3 we read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. King Nebuchadnezzar had built a huge golden statue and decreed that as soon as his musicians started with the blowing of the trumpets and playing music, then all of the people – all the nations, races and languages - must bow down and worship the statue. So when the king’s men realized that there were some of the Hebrews that did not adhere to this command, they went to the king and told him that some of them did not bow down and worship the statue. The king was furious and called Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to be questioned. He asked them if it was true that they do not bow down and worship the statue – but what I find interesting is that he added the following sentence to his question:

“Do you think there is any god who can save you...?”

Everybody knew the penalty. The death sentence by being thrown into a fiery furnace – and the king was convinced that there was no god who could save them.

However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego had a very profound answer for the king. They answered:
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

They had faith and hope in their God. They unequivocally knew that He was able to save them from the fiery furnace – but even should He choose not to save them, they wanted it to be known that they will not worship the idol-god of the king!

We know the rest of the story – they were thrown into the fiery oven after it was made seven times hotter than usual. Those who threw them into the oven were killed because of the excessive heat. The king and everyone with him stood completely astonished because they suddenly realized that there were four men in the fire, and that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were very much alive in the fiery furnace. He called them out just to find that not only were they alive, but their clothes did not even smell like smoke!

Then the king changed the decree and commanded that nobody can speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we have to face dire consequences because of our faith. Which idols are there that the world wants us to bow before? Are we compromising, or are we standing on principle and in faith? These three friends did not know whether God was going to save them. They knew He could – but would He? The crux of the matter was not whether God was going to save them or not, the crux of the matter was that come what may, they were not going to compromise and bow before the golden statue.

Sometimes we face difficult situations. Maybe not as extreme as this one, but if we cannot choose to not compromise in small things, how will we stand in the day we are faced with the fiery furnace? Let us pray for faith like this. Knowing that God can save us – but even if He does not – we will not bow before the worldly king. 

Come worship with Jeremy Riddle:  "Be Enthroned"  

 

 

 

©2020 Copyright – All rights reserved HG Venter