PrintThree prisoners of war are confronted with the ultimate test of loyalty. They are given just one opportunity to defect to the enemy or to face an horrific death. Without hesitation all three refused to surrender to their captor's wishes and chose loyalty over betrayal.
I am both amazed and challenged by their response in such dire circumstances. These men (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - Daniel chp. 3) refused to bow before the enormous statue of King Nebuchadnezzar and, in that choice, were condemned to be burned alive in what was called a "blazing furnace".
King Nebuchadnezzar did, in fact, offer them one further opportunity to recant but again they refused. The King flew into a rage, outlined the nature of their death and finished his tirade with this challenge, "……you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?" (Dan 3:15 NLT)
These three men are heroes in my eyes. Their response to King Nebuchadnezzar's challenge rings in my heart afresh today. Listen to what they say:
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.'" (Dan 3:16-18 NLT)
In those few verses I learn so much about the nature of faith, loyalty and commitment. Three phrases stand out to me.
1. "The God whom we serve is able to save us".
2. "He will rescue us from your power…"
3. "But even if He doesn't…we will never serve your gods".
That response is so decisive, so uncompromising, so emphatic, so certain that it almost takes my breath away even as I ponder it again today."Our God is able…..He will rescue us….but even if He doesn't…." In their case, God "came through" i.e. not only was He able to save them but He did! So the third phrase ("Even if He doesn't…") did not have to be considered. Well, not by our three heroes, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego at least.
This whole episode has got me thinking about people I have met during my 40+ years of pastoral ministry; people who have passionately believed the first two phrases of this "faith equation" (God is able and He will) but could not come to terms with the third phrase (Even if He doesn't) when God failed to show up - or so it seemed to them.
There have been many times over those 40+ years when I have been one of those people. I have passionately believed that God is able. I still do. I know He can. So far as phrase two is concerned, I have wanted to know that He will meet our expectation. Sometimes He did show up. I/We rejoiced in the display of His presence.
But often it seemed He didn't do what we expected. The person was not saved. The disease was not healed. The need was not met.
Faith is not Biblical faith until it accommodates all three phrases or aspects - especially the third one. Listen again to the attitude expressed by all three men should God not rescue them.
"But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.'" (v.18)
What I am hearing is this: "Even if our God chooses not to meet our expectation of deliverance in this situation, we will never, never, never surrender our faith in Him or our loyalty to Him and we will never, never, never serve or worship other gods".
There's another Biblical character in whom certainty and uncertainty made him a mix of contradictions. More about him in the next entry in my log book.
