A God who saves those who are faithful:

24 August 2019

In the Book of Daniel, we read about King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who besieged Jerusalem during the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah. After he took over the land, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his palace master to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight and competent to serve in the king’s palace. Among the Israelites who were chosen for this honor were, Daniel and his three companions Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. To these four men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams. The king was greatly pleased to find that in every matter of wisdom and understanding, they were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom and so he stationed them in his court.

In the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue that was sixty cubits in height and six cubits in width. He then sent for the satraps, the prefects and the governors, counsellors, treasurers, justices, magistrates and all the officials of the provinces to assemble and come to the dedication of the statue that he had set up. So they all assembled for the dedication and when they were standing before the statue the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. Therefore all the people as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, fell to the ground and worshipped the statue. Now among the people who were assembled were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the friends of Daniel. They however did not obey the king’s command and refused to bow down before the statue. They bravely chose not to disobey the commandments given through Moses to all Israelites “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them” Exodus 20:4-5

Some of the Chaldeans saw this and reported the matter to the king. On hearing this the king was furious and commanded them to fall and worship the statue or else they would be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. But they bravely replied to the king “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

On hearing this the king was infuriated and ordered the furnace to be heated up seven times more than was customary and then ordered some of his strongest guards to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the furnace. Accordingly, they bound them and threw them into the furnace. The raging flames of the furnace that was so overheated killed the guards who threw them into it but as for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they landed inside the furnace. Soon they began walking around in the midst of the flames singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. Now the king’s servants kept stoking the furnace with naptha, pitch, tow and brushwood to keep the furnace flaming and each time they did so, the flames lept out of the furnace and burned the people who were near it.

Then Azariah prayed aloud seeking God’s intervention. Soon the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace as though a moist wind were whistling through it. The fire did not touch them at all and caused them no pain and distress. Seeing this great blessing, all the three men with one voice praised, blessed and thanked God in the furnace. Hearing them sing and amazed at seeing them alive, King Nebuchadnezzar rose and came near the furnace. To his great astonishment he found four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire unhurt and to his marvel the fourth man had the appearance of God!! Then he went to the door of the furnace and ordered the men to come out.

The satraps, prefects, governors and all who were present saw the great wonder that God had done because they were unhurt by the fury flames of the furnace which had no power over them. On seeing this great miracle, king Nebuchadnezzar said “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree; Any people, nation or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” The king also promoted them in the province of Babylon.

You should ALWAYS obey God even if the circumstances appear to be unfavourable and even if you may be put in danger for it. Our God is a faithful God and WILL deliver us from every danger as He has promised to all those who obey and keep His Commandments.

Picture Source: Moody Publications

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