Post by mikev on Feb 2, 2022 8:08:52 GMT -7
by I Gordon
Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
What amazing faith our three amigos had! Having committed themselves to the God of Israel [4] , God now commits Himself to them and supplies [5] the boldness and strength to stand and defy the king! What an amazing testimony they gave [6] . You would think that they would fall somewhat silent as they contemplated how to respond to such a threat but they spoke immediately with grace yet firm resolve and faith. It is one thing to 'think' that we will be strong in such a time but another to actually do it. Peter told Jesus that even if all deserted Him, he never would. Great speech! Yet at the moment of testing, he even had to lie to a small girl saying he didn't know Jesus! (Matt 26:69) The moral of this story is that we should never have such great pride and confidence in ourselves but rely on God to give what is needed in such times. That is the answer to the confidence that our three amigos exhibited.
So how do you think the king would respond? What's going to happen to these three little worms that don't want to go along with this new one world religion?
How strong is your faith in our Lord today? Would you trust Him enough to save you from the fiery furnace?
