What If God Doesn't Deliver You?

Daniel 3

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us.  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."  Daniel 3:17-18

After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed and what it meant, the king fell prostrate before Daniel and said, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries." (from Daniel 2:47) Then the king gave Daniel many gifts, made him a ruler over the entire province of Babylon, and placed him in charge of all its wise men. At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as administrators over the province of Babylon, but Daniel stayed at the royal court.

You might think that Nebuchadnezzar would worship Daniel's God, the only One who could interpret the king's dream. But the king built a golden image ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up in the province of Babylon. He summoned all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image. This invitation was a command performance. Daniel's three friends, who were provincial administrators, were included in this invitation, but apparently Daniel was not.

After the crowd had gathered, a herald stood up and announced that, when the people heard music, they were required to fall down and worship the golden image. Those who failed to worship the image were to be thrown into a blazing furnace. Some of the astrologers came before the king and told him that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had not worshiped the golden image. No doubt they were jealous of the king's favor toward these Jewish men.

The king was furious, and he summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He reiterated the consequences of disobedience to his order. And he asked the men what god could rescue them from his hand. Nebuchadnezzar had a false idea of his own power and of the power of God.

The three men said their God could deliver them, and he would deliver them, but if he did not, they still refused to worship the idol. This defiance sent the king into a rage. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of his strongest soldiers to tie up the three men and throw them into the furnace. The fire was so hot that the soldiers were killed by the flames as threw their prisoners into them.

The king looked into the furnace and saw an amazing sight. Four men were walking around unbound and unharmed. The king told the men to come out, and everybody crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not burned their bodies, singed their hair, nor scorched their clothes. The men didn't even smell of smoke.

Nebuchadnezzar praised the faithfulness of the three men to their God and the faithfulness of their God to the three men. He said God had sent an angel and rescued his servants, and he declared that no other god could have saved them as their God did. Our faithfulness to God results in glory and praise to His name.

Father, may we stand firm and be faithful to You in every circumstance.  Give us courage when we are tested.  May our lives glorify You and cause others to praise You.  Amen.