TEXT: DAN 3:8-21, 28-30
At this time some astrologers or Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us. Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and 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.”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 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace….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. 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.”Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
There is no promotion with test or examination. For you to be promoted to a greater or next level, you must go through a test. Nobody gets promoted without having to face some trials or challenges.
For example, when students wanted to be promoted from one class to the next higher class, the teachers will conduct some test for them to test their ability to that they will know if they are fit enough to be promoted.
In the same vein, for God to elevate you and promote you to the next higher level; your faithfulness and your steadfastness will be tested. God may decide to bring a challenge your way to know the extent of your love and your commitment to him.
You know it is easy to serve God when things are working well for you. You may find it easy to profess your “unending love” for God when the line is falling in good places for you. When the tide turns in “not so good” or in a very messy situation, can you still be steadfast in your commitment to God?
In our text, the three Hebrew boys were having the challenge of renouncing their God by bowing down to worship the image of gold of king Nebuchadnezzar. Failure to bow down for this image would cost them their lives. If they refuse to bow down to the image of gold, they will be thrown into the extremely hot fire prepared at the instruction of the king. The period can be referred to as the period of their test that would get them promoted to the next level.
The Hebrew boys faced the “promotional test” and they came out victoriously. The boys proved their love and steadfastness to God by standing their ground not to bow to the image of gold.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king
“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us 17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and from Your Majesty’s hand. 18But 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.” (Dan 3: 16-18).
The king was filled with rage and ordered that the boys should be thrown into the extremely heated furnace. The boys were thrown into the fire but the lord took out the heat from the fire and made the fire to become “air conditioner” for them and they were not burnt!
God does not allow those who trust Him to be put to shame. When the Hebrew boys refused to trade their God for any man made gods, the Lord came through for them by rescuing them from the plot of the enemy.
If you stand your ground in the face of problem and affliction, the Lord will not forsake you. He will rescue and deliver you from the plot of the enemy and you will triumph and be promoted like the Hebrew boys.
“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.28Then 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. 29Therefore 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.”30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. (Dan 3:27-30).
Be encouraged that God will not leave nor forsake you. You will be tested to be promoted, make sure you don’t fail the test if you want to go to the next level of greatness. Failure to pass the test means repetition until you pass that level gloriously. NO PROMOTION WITHOUT TEST!
Image : Google Image
