Daniel 3:16-18
‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”’
Wow! That is confidence. If the king was angry prior to this then their response made him furious. They are acting as if the king isn’t significant. In view of God, he isn’t. This is fearing God rather than man.
In the previous chapter the king was honoring God. Not as a believer, but as one who saw a miracle. He said in Daniel 2:47, ‘The king responded to Daniel and said, “Your God truly is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.”’ Yet, in the next chapter he acts differently. He makes an idol of himself as an object of worship.
We will also come across fearful situations. We are to trust Him to get us through those. Even though a godly response won’t be what the world wants, we are to side with God. We aren’t to be overwhelmed by these. In Matthew 10:19 Jesus says, “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.” That’s awesome.
The way we prepare for those situations is to walk with God on a daily basis. Part of this is to do what He says. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” As we practice an obedient relationship with God, we would be more prone to obey in the crisis.
The chorus of the hymn, Trust and Obey, comes to mind. It goes like this, “Trust and obey for their’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” We aren’t to fear the storms. He will be with us and strengthen us.
We may wonder, why such hostility? Jesus answers that in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before you.” We aren’t on a popular path. That’s ok. We are in Christ. We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
Thank You, Lord, for You and Your way. So much blessing. Help us to stay in You. Thank You that You prepare us and are with us in the storms.