Building Courage
“But even if He does not, we want you to know, your Majesty, the we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3:18
Since I was a child, I have loved the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace. I loved how God came and rescued these young men and how God loved them so much that He did not want anything to harm them. Now that I am an adult, I love the story even more for many reasons. I see how God does not keep bad things from happening to us, but He does protect His people. I also see that without the courage that God gave these three men, it would have been impossible for them to stand up for their beliefs. Finally, I see where we are to trust in God’s will regardless of our life circumstances. Our strength, loyalty, and faith in God are strengthened by the stories of these men.
Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), Azariah (Abednego) and Daniel (Belteshazzar) had been exiled from their homes in Judah at a young age, probably 18-20 years old. The captivity in Babylon began with their names being changed so they no longer had Hebrew names. This name change symbolized Babylon’s power and control over their lives. They were brought to Babylon, where their character, training and skills qualified them for positions as servants in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar.
They were foreigners in a land that was completely different from what they had known. They didn’t worship the same god, eat the same food, or treat each other the same way. Their customs were different, and everything about their new home was different. They were forced to live in a city that was full of lavish things, and by working in the king’s palace, were able to eat the same foods and drink the same drinks as the king. Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and Daniel were in the minority in their new land, but they chose not to conform to Babylonian customs. They stayed true to their beliefs, eating only a diet of vegetables and grains and only drinking water.
King Nebuchadnezzar saw these men were ideal physical specimens and recognized they possessed intelligence, a teachable spirit, and poise. The king knew they could be useful to him. But it was God who gave these four men favor in the king’s eyes. Daniel was even given the gift of interpreting visions and dreams. God gave them exactly what they needed to survive in a culture full of evil.
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel are perfect examples of how when we stand true to our beliefs no matter what is around us, God uses us to expand His kingdom and glorify Him. God uses these men to prove to the kings of their time that their God is much more powerful than the kings or gods the Babylonians worship.
In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar erects a massive statue in tribute to himself. He commands the people of Babylon to fall down and worship his statue when they hear the sound of the pipe, horn, lyre, or any other kind of music. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. Would that be a hard decision to make? Do we stand true to our God and Biblical truths or do we succumb to the ways and demands of the world?
It’s not hard for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to make their decision. They say to King Nebuchadnezzar, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve can rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” What a bold statement! There is no room for doubt in this statement. They trust the one true God and would risk it all for Him. They make it clear to King Nebuchadnezzar that even if it is not God’s will to save them from death, they still trust in Him.
Those two little words are so huge in this verse, “even if.” What are you praying for today? What are you desperately asking of God? Can you use the words “even if” in your prayer?
Say this prayer. “Lord, today I come to you and ask that you will ____________________________________, but even if you do not answer my prayer the way I want, I will serve you and do as you ask me to do. I trust you and lay my desires down and succumb to your Almighty will.”
God did choose to save these men from the burning fire that day. When the king looked into the furnace after the three men were bound in their garments, and thrown in, he saw four men unbound walking freely in the fire. He said, “the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” This man was a divine being sent from God to serve the three Hebrew men and protect them from being engulfed by the flames. King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed and said to the people of Babylon in Daniel 4:3, “How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is eternal; His dominion endures from generation to generation.” God was glorified on that day! Through the courage of theses men in standing up for their beliefs and acting on their faith in God, other people’s faith was strengthened.
Even if. Even if You do not heal me. Even if You do not keep this from happening. Even if You do not open this door. Even if You do not give me this desire. No matter what situation we are facing, we will continually stand loyal to God and His Word, knowing God’s will for our lives is always for our good. We talk about how God sees the whole movie and we only see tiny clips of it. God knows the beginning, the middle, and the end. Can we trust that He is watching out for every detail of our lives, no matter what we face?
Digging Deeper. Read Daniel 3-4:3.
How is God asking you to step out in courage for His glory?
How does God build your trust in Him?
How do you feel God is asking His people to stand out in a foreign land, this world full of evil?