I have always loved the story of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Those were their Hebrew names. You probably know them better by their Babylonian names: Shadrach Meshach Abednego. Our Bible Class last Sunday found us in Daniel 3, where King Nebuchadnezzar had erected a huge gold statue that everyone was to bow down before and worship. Our trio refused to do so, and then we read:
Daniel 3:13–18 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, pipes 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 the king, “O 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 save us from it, and he will 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.”
The king had asked, “what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Without missing a beat, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied, “Let us tell you what god: Our God, the true God, the Creator of all, the one who delivered us from Egypt. He can do anything. “The God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.”
As impressive as this testimony in the face of death was and still is, what they said next is even more powerful. “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.”
I hear St. Paul echoing this sentiment in Romans.
Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
We should have the same confidence of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They believed in the God who saved their people in the past and the one who promised a Savior from sin and death. That Savior has come and accomplished what was needed to pay for all sin, giving us the certainty of forgiveness and life forever with Him.
Someone in class last Sunday reminded us of the song Mercy Me put out a while back that expresses this same confidence in God, referencing the words of those facing the fiery furnace. I hope this encourages you today.
