Today’s Scripture is one that you might recall having heard in Sunday school when you were young, or in children’s church when you were a child. However, the message here is definitely not just for children. As adults, we can learn from today’s Scripture from the Book of Daniel, a message of standing strong for what we believe in, and not giving in to peer pressure, or any other pressure to do what we know is wrong. Let’s take a fresh look at this Biblical account.
As our chapter in Daniel begins we read of King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, setting up a tall golden statue of himself, and ordering the people to worship it (vs. 1-7). Nebuchadnezzar was king of the Babylonian Empire from 605 BC - 562 BC. He was the king who led the overthrow of the Kingdom of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of the Jewish people. Like many kings, he had an inflated opinion of himself, and like many in the ancient world, he started to want his people to worship him as one of their many deities. Thus he set up a large, 90 foot statue of himself, and told the people to bow down towards the statue whenever they heard a certain musical song played. The punishment for disobedience was to be thrown into a burning furnace. This was a direct order to break one of God’s Ten Commandments, that against worshiping someone or thing other than God, and worshiping idols. Would God’s people bow or would they burn?
The Babylonian Empire had no problem with raising qualified people from the lands they had conquered to important positions within the empire, as long as they blended in with society. If they were good-looking and bright, intelligent young men, they were trained and placed into positions. Among them was Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These four, though, despite rising in rank, did not forsake or abandon their strong faith in God.
At the time that this idol was set up, and the order to worship it was given, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a decision to make. (Daniel was probably out of the capital city on some business, and was thus not a part of this situation.) Would they bow and save their lives, or not bow and burn? The three didn’t even need to stop and ponder for a moment. They had already decided they would never bow to a pagan deity, no matter what the cost. Immediately enemies were there, ready to report these believers to the authorities (vs. 8-12). Satan always has his people around to try and bring God’s people down. They were reported and Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He brought the three to himself and gave them one last chance. Would they bow or would they burn? (vs. 13-15).
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not give in to peer pressure or to political pressure. They responded with boldness and courage. They boldly gave testimony to their faith in God by stating that He was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace. But even if He didn’t save them, they would not dishonor, disobey, or betray Him by worshiping an idol (vs. 16-18). As we read, the three were thrown into the furnace, heated seven times hotter (vs. 19-23). However, as the king observed, they did not die, and a Fourth Man was walking there with them. This is believed to be a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus (vs. 24-25). Nebuchadnezzar called the three out of the furnace, and began praising Yahweh for His great miracle in saving His servants who trusted in Him. He then made a decree that no one is allowed to say anything against Yahweh (vs. 26-30).
What would you do today if faced with a similar scenario? Would you bow to save your life? Would you give in to the commands society makes, even though you know it goes against God’s Word? Would you save your life for just a quick bow? Would you save your job, your standing in your community just so you don’t look like you are going against what society today says is right, though you know it is against God and His Word? These faithful men of God could have chosen to bow before an idol to save their own skin, but they had faith in the only true God, and knew the right thing to do. It may not be easy to fight for what you know is right, but God will reward you for standing up in His Name and refusing to yield to evil.
These three had no assurance that God would spare their lives, yet they were fully committed to die a painful death. Even if God didn’t rescue them from the fire, they chose to trust in His plans. Even though God is able, we can trust Him when He doesn’t do what we think should be done. Even if God’s plans for our lives aren’t what we hoped for, learning to trust God is part of His good plan,
God desires that we cling to Him - even if our loved one isn’t healed, even if we lose our job, even if we are persecuted. Sometimes God rescues us from danger in this life, and sometimes He doesn’t. The God we serve is able. He loves us and is with us in every fiery trial. Do not bend, do not bow, and look for the Fourth Man in the fire with you!
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