Daniel (4) - Thursday 5th June 2008

We continue to look at the book of Daniel.

Daniel isn’t mentioned in chapter 3. I assume that he was away from the capital city on official business. Perhaps because he was away, Nebuchadnezzar seems to forget the lessons that Daniel’s faith has taught him and he erects a massive idol and orders everyone to worship it as and when commanded. The punishment for not doing so is to be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, are faced with what appears to be certain death or turning their back on God. They are aware that God has the power to save them but aren’t certain what will happen. Perhaps their memory returns to the destruction of Jerusalem; God then had the power to save them but chose a different path.

Their doubts, however, do not alter their decision. Their answer to the king, at the final opportunity to save their life is as follows,

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.” Daniel 3:16-18 [NIV]

The story continues that God miraculously rescues the three men from the burning furnace and Nebuchadnezzar gives praise to God.

I find great encouragement in this. We don’t have to have all the answers or be totally doubt free. Even in our fears and doubts God is there. We don’t have to feel that we can trust God to be able to trust him.

Do see what our team have been doing at Casa Re-OM in Beira Mozambique, visit their blog daily: http://casareom2008.blogspot.com