In our
study of the book of Daniel with another couple, we reached chapter 3, the
account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace
for refusing to worship the golden image. It’s always amazing to me how often the Lord
affirms the truth of scripture through the use of many “types” throughout
scripture—people and/or events that represent those truths. David Guzik summarized well how this event
typifies truths connected to the coming seven-year tribulation period (my
modification in italics):
· Nebuchadnezzar is like the Antichrist, who forces the whole world into
one religion of idolatry.
· Nebuchadnezzar’s image is like the image described in Revelation 13,
that the whole world will be commanded to worship.
· The fiery furnace is like the Great Tribulation, which will be great
affliction for the Jews.
· The three Hebrew men are like the believing remnant of Israel,
who will be preserved through the tribulation.
· The executioners who perished are like those in league with the
Antichrist, who Jesus will slay at His return.
· The mysteriously absent Daniel is like the church, not even present for
this time of great tribulation.
As we
came to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s bold statement to King Nebuchadnezzar,
one thing in particular stood out to me.
They were not shy to declare their faith in the God they “served.”
Daniel 3:16–18 “Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in
this matter. 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. 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.”
Their
faith was strongly rooted in their service.
What does it mean to “serve” God?
Webster defines to serve as “…to be employed in labor or other business for
another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service.” In other words, these men lived their lives
choosing to submit to and obey God’s law.
I believe this is one reason their fellow officials were so eager to
accuse them before the king. Their lives
testified to their commitment to the one true God, and they resented the
authority these three men possessed when they didn’t even serve the gods of
Babylon.
These three Hebrew men
didn’t hesitate when given the ultimatum to bow before the king’s idol or
suffer death in the fiery furnace. They
were confident that God would deliver them—be it through a miracle to preserve
their lives or through death. They knew
just as surely as Job that this life was not the whole of their existence.
Job 19:25-26 “For I know that my redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my
skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God….”
These men lived by the
truth expressed by Peter and John when they were commanded not to share the
gospel.
Acts 5:28–29 “Saying, Did not we
straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye
have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood
upon us. Then Peter and the other
apostles answered and said, We ought to
obey God rather than men.”
This account of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego calls for yet another self-examination. Would I be able to respond as quickly and
confidently as these three men in the face of persecution and/or death? Am I ready to stand up to the powers that be
when it comes to obeying God?
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