Day 06 of Journey Through Daniel | FAITHFULNESS IN THE MIDST OF UNCERTAINTY

COMMENTARY In today’s reading, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego continues. As we’ve seen, they have been accused of refusing to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. Now, they are threatened with death in a blazing furnace. The passage begins with a stunning statement by the three men. They say in Daniel 3:17-18, “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 Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” What’s remarkable about their response is the faithfulness they show in the midst of uncertainty. They recognize that God has the power to save them. They also recognize that God might choose not to save them. In that place of unknowing, they still resolutely declare that they would never submit to the corrupt agendas of evil rulers. In the end, God intervenes in a dramatic fashion. He sends one who “looks like a son of the gods” to deliver them from the flames (Daniel 3:25). This is the first of several times in the book of Daniel that God sends a supernatural being to save His persecuted people from suffering (Daniel 6:22; 7:13; 8:25; 10:12-14; 12:1). However, this story should not be read as a guarantee that God will save us from whatever imminent harm is looming on the horizon. In fact, the latter half of Daniel describes how God’s people undergo enormous suffering at the hands of a 2nd century BC tyrant known as Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Daniel 11:33 tells us that some who would choose to be faithful in the midst of Antiochus’ abominable policies would “fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.” God would eventually raise up these faithful followers over their oppressor, but their deliverance would come in the afterlife (Daniel 12:2-3). While the story shows us God’s ability to save, it’s more of a challenge for us to be faithful, even when we don’t know the outcome. As followers of God, we don’t do what is right because life will be easy for us or because God will save us as a result. We do what’s right because it’s what God calls us to do. SCRIPTURE Daniel 3:16–30 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 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 Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that 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. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. QUESTIONS 1. What does it say about God that He sent a representative to join Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in their place of suffering? 2. What recent or current situation are you facing that requires faithfulness without certainty? What right thing is God asking you to do?