Ah, good ‘ol Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I was reading about them in Daniel 3:16-18 this week as they were getting ready to be thrown into the furnace if they did not bow down to the gold statue Nebuchadnezzar had built of himself.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t , we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (NLT)

A lot has gone on in many of our lives when we like to ask the “Why” question. Why is this happening to me? Why now? Why them? Why would God allow this? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had many of these same opportunities. They were young men who were taken from Jerusalem and forced to go to Babylon in the exile. Even if I’m taken from my surroundings, my home, I will serve God.

Did you remember that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were their Babylonian names given to them so they could better assimilate into the Babylonian culture? Shadrach meant “under the command of Aku” (the moon-god), Meshach meant “who is like Aku” (the moon-god), and Abednego meant “servant of Nabu” (the god of learning and writing). Every time they were summoned, they were reminded of a culture they did not embrace.  A culture that was so very far from the one true God they served. Even if I’m placed in a culture opposite of the one true God, I will remain true and pure.

Even though, they were “named” something differently, their hearts remained true to their given names: Hananiah (the Lord shows grace), Mishael (who is like God), and Azariah (the LORD helps). Think about their lives: exiled, placed into leadership, refused to bow to their king’s statue, thrown into a fiery furnace. In all of this the Lord showed them grace and favor, as they lived their lives like God and they believed and had faith that He would provide the help that they needed in any circumstance. Even if those around me are different, I will live into my God-given position: A follower of Jesus Christ!

We know the other side of this story and how it turns out, but I want to leave you today in the midst of this story. You are standing with them before the king. He is giving you one more opportunity to bow before him, his gods, and his statue before they lose their lives in a blazing furnace. You are standing in your boss’s office and he’s asking you to do what you know is unethical. Will you bow? Your children’s friends are doing wrong and crossing the line. Your child begs you to not make them seem different. Will you bow? Your parents criticize you for what you know God has call you and your family to do. Will you bow and cave?

Or, are  you willing to say, “Even if…”? Even if you fire me, I will do what’s right. Even if you lose friends, I will do what’s right. Even if my family is mad or disappointed, I will do what God has called me to do.

Are you to the point in your relationship with God that you can say “even if” in any circumstance? Read Daniel 1-3 this week to read about their journey to Babylon and we’ll pick up next time on what happens when they said, “Even if”.

© 2017 Susan M. Sims

Picture courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/Sailom

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