Bible Reading: Daniel 3v16-23 'Faith in the Fire'

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[c] 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 towards them changed. He ordered the furnace to be 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.

How can you stand for your faith when there is so much pressure? How can you witness to Jesus in the midst of an increasingly hostile society? How can we withstand the pressure to go private with our faith?

It is important to remember that we have the reader edge as we read this.  The danger in knowing the outcome is that we flatten out the story in terms of its emotions, fears and therefore the courageous stand these young men take for God.  They do not know that they will be saved through the fire, they do not know that they will see tomorrow, they only know that they will not bow to an idol, they will stand for Yahweh.

And the pressure on them is phenomenal, this is not them and Nebuchadnezzar facing off in a room privately.  This is a very public confession and testing (see v27), others who have bowed and will bow are watching on, some no doubt with a malicious gleam of triumph in their eyes.  The pressure is on, all eyes are on them, will they obey the king or hold fast to their faith?

It's worth here just pointing something out, the pressure is on them to adopt this worship as well as their worship of Yahweh.  Nebuchadnezzar isn't saying stop worshipping Yahweh, he is just adding this worship of his statue alongside it.  It's important we see that because it makes their stand all the clearer.  They ill worship nothing alongside of God, he alone is worthy of their worship.

They pick up on Nebuchadnezzar’s challenge of v15 and make clear their trust is in God. They trust in Yahweh’s sovereignty, goodness and will. But they also don’t presume to know what God’s will is in the situation or that he has to save them. Instead they will obey him no matter what. It’s worth noting here they don’t weigh up the potential benefits of compromise, there’s no debating ‘But God brought us to this position in Babylon he can’t mean for us to lose it.’ Or ‘if we bow temporarily just think of all the good we can do long term for God’s people if we stay in these positions of influence and power.’ There is none of that, just obedience without compromise, public declaration of faith in God.

What is it that enables them to boldly and publicly declare their faith? It is that they know God. They are utterly convinced of the goodness of God no matter what his will is. Therefore they obey. Faith says “God is able…” and entrusts itself to his care and purpose for his glory.  The battle here is expressed very clearly in terms of worship. They will not budge or compromise over Yahweh’s exclusive claim to their worship.  He is the God that they serve (v17) and they will serve him even if it means they are thrown into the fire.

Faith acts, faith risks, knowing God alone is worthy of our worship and praise and knowing that to worship anything else in place of or alongside is wrong.  Knowing God will enable us to stand even when the pressure is on.