I will not!
Daniel 3 :17, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King.”
The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is one of my favorite stories of faith from the Old Testament. (If you have never read it for yourself, or if it’s been a while, I invite you to turn your Bible to Daniel 3, and read this.) It’s impossible to read their story, actually God’s Story, of grace,and not have a HUGE GRIN come over your face as you think about what God did.
I will give a very brief outline here, but you need to read the whole story! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were taken captive by the Babylonians when they invaded Israel. King Nebuchadnezzar had set up “golden images” of himself, and had ordered all Babylon to bow to the ground, and woship his image whenever they heard the music from the castle. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to do this! They were following the teachings of the Lord in Deuteronomy 30. Deuteronomy 30: 17-18 says, But if your heart turns away, and you will not obey; but are drawn away and worship other Gods and serve them. I declare to you today that you shall surely perish…”
They told the king, Here’s the deal, our God has told us not to worship other god’s, and we’re not gonna do it; so you can do whatever you want because we know that our God can save us.
Then comes the sticker. They nailed the exclamation point on with this! In verse 18 they said to the king, “But even if He does not,let it be known to you, O king, that we are NOT going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.“(emphasis mine)
I can see them grinning from ear to ear, and I can hear Nebuchadnezzar gritting his teeth while they say this. Here they were in front of the king, and they could probably see the furnace and feel the heat from the fire; they knew what the future had in store for them, but they were so confident in their God that they didn’t care.
It reminds me of a story that happened much later. Go with me to the garden of Gethsemane. On the night before His crucifixion Jesus prayed to His Father in Matthew 26:39, “…My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
Jesus was echoing the words of the Hebrew children. He knew what was ahead of Him,; He knew that the cruel cross waited for Him, but He said if this is your plan then so be it because I know that the glories you have prepared for Me far outweighs the pain of the cross.
To get back, and finish the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; they were thrown into the furnace by the king, but afterwards when he looked in he saw another fourth person in the furnace!!!!!!!!!!!!PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was in the furnace with the Hebrew children; just like He will be in “the furnace” with you!!!!!!!!!! He has promised us that He will NEVER leave us!!!!!!!!!
Father, I ask that You bring to my memory the fact that You are with me always, especially in the fires of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 