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• Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego

(Daniel 3:16-18)

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 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:16-18)

In Daniel 3 we read about three men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These
men, together with Daniel, had been appointed to authority positions in the province of
Babylon (Daniel 2:49). They were godly Jews to whom God had given «knowledge and
skill in all learning and wisdom» (Daniel 1:17), and whom He had furthered to these
authority positions. Because of their position, they would probably enjoy many things
that not only the Jews but also most of the natives didn't enjoy. They were certainly
blessed people. However, one day the situation changed. Nebuchadnezzar, their boss,
had made a gold image asking everyone to worship it. All in the kingdom had to
worship this image and if someone disobeyed, he would be burned in the den of fire.
Thus, Shadrah, Meshah and Abednego faced a challenge: Would they follow the king's
command, defending their lives, their blessings, their families, their positions, and then
probably asking «sorry» from God, or would they obey to His Word, never bowing to
this idol? Daniel 3:8-12 tells us that they finally chose the latter. Thus, they were
brought before the king, and though he was very angry with them, he decided to give
them one more opportunity: «But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from
my hands?» (Daniel 3:15), he told them. Then, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
replied:

Daniel 3:16-18
«Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, «O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God
whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver
us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not
serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up»
 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had determined that they would by no means
worship this idol. Though they knew that God could deliver them, they didn't consider
it as given. They obeyed God unconditionally, and even if He didn't deliver them («But
if NOT») they would still not worship the king's idols («let it be known to you, O king,
that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set
up»). As Daniel 3:28 says: They had delivered their bodies to worship Him. Their reply
made the king even angrier and the den even hotter. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
were immediately cast there. Yet, something unexpected made the king and his
counselors astonished: instead of being burned instantaneously, these people were
walking in the den, not alone but together with someone whose form was «like a son of
God» (Daniel 3:25)! Immediately, the king commanded to take them out. His response
is recorded in verses 28-30:

Daniel 3:28-30
«Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, «Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, who sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they
have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor
worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people,
nation or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap;
because there is no other God who can deliver like this. Then the king promoted
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon»

Sometimes, what we focus in passages like these is the blessings and the
deliverance of God. And yes they should have our attention. Yet what I would like to
also point out today, is the obedience of those three men, and especially the fact that it
was unconditional. Really, these people wouldn't obey God only if He delivered them
but also if He didn't deliver them. Turning this to us, we should obey God
unconditionally, because we have decided to fully submit ourselves to Him. It is
unconditional submission that is the source of our obedience. Of course God can
deliver, yet our obedience is not to be based on this or on any other condition.

Tassos Kioulachoglou