Stand Up in Faith

Faith in God often leads us into unknown territory. When threats to our faith arise we can stand up or slink out. A well-known pastor tells the tale of a house church meeting surreptitiously in a persecuted land. Suddenly, the doors burst open and a military attachment entered the room. The leader told everyone “Hands Up! If you are not a believer in Christ, you may leave.” Several people left and the leader closed and locked the door. He then uttered an astounding statement. “Now, raise your hands in praise to our God!” This military leader wanted to weed out the pretenders. I sometimes wish we could have a test to weed out those who proclaim Christ only when it is easy or convenient. I think that’s why the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego has always intrigued me, even from childhood. I have seen people who claimed to be Christian but seem lackadaisical in their relationship with Him. I will leave the judgment to God.

Daniel Prays and Interprets. As background, King Nebuchandezzar had a dream that none of his wise men, magicians, and astrologers could interpret, even though they claimed to be connected to the gods. The king was rather cagey asking his spiritual advisors to first recount the dream. They obviously couldn’t, the king was furious, and ordered them all killed. Daniel, who was not included in this group, heard of the decree and realized he was under a death sentence also. Daniel and his friends prayed for a revelation. God gave Daniel a vision. He then requested an audience with the king. When this was granted, he related the dream. “You, O king, were watching and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary radiance, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay” (Daniel 2:31-33). He then related that the king saw the statue crushed to pieces. 

Daniel added that Nebuchandezzar was the head of gold. Apparently, Nebuchandezzar only heard the part about him being the greatest of the four kings and ignored the destruction part. He ordered a statue to be built and worshiped by all. Those who did not were condemned to die in a burning furnace. 

The Chaldeans Target Daniel’s  Friends. There is likely a backstory. Daniel had been made ruler of Babylon as a result of His interpretation. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had been appointed over the administration of Babylon. After the statue was built, certain Chaldeans reported to the king that these three did not worship the golden statue. One must wonder where Daniel was, maybe he was considered untouchable as the ruler of Babylon and a favorite of the king. Perhaps he was off ruling Babylon.

One must also wonder about the Chaldeans. How did they know the three were not worshiping the statue? Did that mean they had been out snooping and weren’t worshiping? They obviously disliked the Jews being in places of power and sought to remove them. This could have even been the whole purpose behind the statue.

The king went into another rage (see a pattern here?) but gave the three another chance, adding that their God could not even save them from the burning furnace. They calmly replied “we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). Here is where the story gets good.

Three Statements. Note that the three made three statements, I can see them each taking  turns , each making a point to  Nebuchandezzar. Shadrach – We don’t answer to you. Meshach – God is able to rescue us from the furnace. Abed-nego – Even if he chooses not to, we will not worship your gods nor your statue.

Of course, this enraged Nebuchandezzar and he took action. First, he heated the furnace seven times hotter. He bound them. They were thrown into the fire that was so hot the three guards were burned to death. The king was astounded as he looked into the fire and saw four men. He asked “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, ‘Absolutely, O king.’ He responded, ‘Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!’”

Let’s focus on three statements from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

We don’t answer to you. The three were making it abundantly clear that their first allegiance was to God, not to the king, regardless of what he said or did. As the One having supreme allegiance, we answer to Almighty God, our supreme authority.

God is able to rescue us. Because he is almighty, immortal, and all-powerful we know that our God can rescue us from your pithy little furnace. If he so chooses, the furnace cannot harm us. Our focus is on eternity, not this world.

Even if he chooses not to save us. We will not worship any God but Yahweh. God has a plan. As mere mortals, we are not privy to those plans unless he chooses to reveal them to us. If he doesn’t rescue us, you can know, as we do, that God has something better planned. We are merely three individuals and if He chooses us for His better way, we will lay down our lives for Him. 

God was with them and they walked out of the furnace without even a smell of smoke on them. When God comes through, He comes through in a big way. The king declared that no one should speak anything offensive against their God. But note, it was still “their” God. Nebuchandezzar had still not embraced Him.

Four Characteristics. I think there are four characteristics we see in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego that we would do well to adopt in our own lives.

First, they were steadfast. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines steadfast as firmly fixed in place. Immovable, not subject to change. Firm in belief, determination, or adherence. Loyal. Those are some pretty strong words. I would be proud if someone called me steadfast in my faith. They lacked no uncertainty about Yahweh being the one, true God.

Second, they publicly lived out their faith. They had friends in high places. Daniel had them appointed to prestigious jobs overseeing Babylon. They could have taken the attitude that they should “lay low” since God had seen fit to place them in such positions of authority. In other words, “God’s favoring us, let’s don’t do anything to mess this up.” But, as we know, God had greater things in store for them. They would have been settling for less than God’s best.

Some may question the role of faith. They pray “God grant this request of mine.” But they don’t get an immediate answer. Some of us know God better because we have spent time with Him in prayer, praise, and pondering. Our faith works best when we are inside His will. Our faith unlocks God’s will in our lives. Remember that “faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). If someone tells me they will give me $1,000,000, I am likely to discount that statement. I lack faith in that person. But if that person is a wealthy relative who has taken a liking to me, I would be more inclined to believe it would happen.  I trust that person fully, so I have faith it will come to be. It’s the same with God. When we are close to him, we can have more faith in Him and our faith becomes sight.

Third, they believed in prayer. Prayer is most likely the most powerful tool in our arsenal. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18 when describing the whole armor of God “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” A pastor of mine was once organizing a church-wide effort and was recruiting volunteers for various roles – visitation, greeting, promotion, facilities, etc. Then he uttered the crushing blow “And if you can’t do anything else, you can pray. I about hit the roof. Prayer is not the last resort, it is the first priority. Some may not be able to do any of those tasks, but everyone can pray. And you can do it no matter where you are.

The final characteristic of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego is that they regarded themselves as part of a community. Daniel was preparing to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He had requested an audience with the king.But he was proactive. Before he got an invitation from the king, Daniel prepared himself in prayer. In Daniel 2:17-18 we read  “Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego), about the matter, so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” The three (and possibly others) prayed with Daniel about this matter. We can assume that Daniel and others were praying for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego as well.

As Christians we are not Lone Rangers but supporters of each other. Hebrews 10:24-25 reads “and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  As a body of believers, a community. and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were a part of the community of believers. 

Examine your steadfastness. Deepen your faith. Be a prayer warrior. Don’t neglect your church community. 

Scripture is from New American Standard Bible unless otherwise indicated

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