Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego were some pretty awesome guys in the Old Testament. I have always been drawn into their account since the early flannel board Sunday School lessons, but in the last several years, I have become overwhelmed at how very strong their faith in God was.
I'm always in awe when reading scripture and think it very odd that so many people just read past something like, "The fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them." (Daniel 3.27) That's crazy stuff there! That's miraculous! I mean, have you ever stood outside next to the bar-b-q grill? You can't help but smell like fire. Yet, these men were thrown into a blazing furnace - heated 7 times hotter than hot - and didn't even smell like smoke! So why were they in the fire?
Well, you see, the King (Nebuchadnezzar) had built a golden image and was requiring all to bow down to this statue any time the music played. If one did not bow, they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. Enter Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego. They did not bow. These young men had been brought to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem. He took all the best things - gold, riches, sacred objects, and strong men. These 3 were among his captives. Having found favor with the King and his leaders, these 3 were promoted and made leaders themselves. Finding themselves living, working, socializing, etc. in a very lost, pagan world, Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego did not let that diminish their walk with YHWH. How do I know this? Because they did not bow!
When the order and its consequences were heralded loudly and the musicians began to play, these 3 men stood tall. They stood out. They were different. They were noticed. This "rebellion" infuriated the other Babylonian leaders so they tattled on them to the King. And the Bible says that the King was "furious with rage" and had the men brought before him. [Listen, when you walk with God, you will look different. You will stand out. And some people will be mad.]
King Nebuchadnezzar gives them another chance. He says, "I'll have the band play again and when you hear it, you go ahead and bow down and we'll be good. But if you don't bow, you'll be thrown into the furnace and then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" (Daniel 3.15) He's not playin'!
But here's what I feel is one of the greatest examples of real, solid faith in the Bible. These young Hebrews stand in front of the all powerful King of Babylon and say, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from your hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not bow!" (Daniel 3.16-18)
So history tells us that this only infuriated the King more and in his rage he commanded that the furnace be heated 7 times hotter than normal. He had them bound up - fully dressed, turbans and all - and thrown into the furnace. In such haste and with the extreme heat, the soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego into the furnace died instantly! But the King jumps to his feet in stunned question..."Didn't we just tie up 3 men and throw them into the furnace?" This really seems like a silly question...you know you did. It just happened like five seconds ago. But he continues, "I see 4 men, walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the forth looks like a son of the gods." (Daniel 3.24-25)
The King calls the men out and this is where they see that the fire has not only not consumed them, but it hasn't even left a mark...not even a hint of smoke. Then King Nebuchadnezzar says, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego!" He then issues a decree that anyone who says anything against their God will be "cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble..." (You can't make this stuff up!) "for no other god can save in this way!" (Daniel 3.28-29)
These 3 men walked with God - wherever He led them. They stood for Him when everyone else bowed to idols. They risked their jobs, reputations, and lives for the One they knew was able. But don't miss this, friends, they didn't know that God would rescue their lives. Oh, they knew He could. "Our God is able to deliver us..." But their faith in God was so real that they continued with, "BUT, even if He doesn't, we will NOT bow!"
They walked in relationship with God everyday and they knew Him; they trusted Him. They had faith that His ways were higher and better than their own and if that meant death by flames, so be it. They would not compromise. They walked with God in the everyday - and He walked with them in the furnace.
I'm learning that in order to stand boldly for God at the mouth of the fiery furnace and proclaim that I will not bow, I've got to know Him. I've got to walk with Him everyday, every moment. I've got to know that I know that I know that He is ABLE...but, to also have the faith that even if He does not show up the way I would like, He is still God...He is still good. The fires we face do not change who He is. Malachi 3.6 says, "I am the LORD, and I do not change." So if He walked with Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, He will walk with me.
I'm so glad that I serve a God who walks with His children...even in the furnace.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
Blogging My Words
So I've been feeling this strong desire to blog again. I feel that as I study the scripture & maybe learn some things or gain insight through life, I would like an outlet to express all that is going on in my head & my heart. Thus the blog. And, the name of this blog - "furnacewalking" - came from some of my most recent ponderings over an Old Testement account which I will share in my next post.
Thanks for stopping by & reading my words.
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