Frontline

Several thousand years before Jesus lived, the people of Israel were attacked and many of there brightest people were taken to a strange and feared land. God had told the people of Israel that if they worshipped idols, then this would happen - and it did. 

In Daniel 3, we find the story of three boys. They were strangers in a strange land, yet their faith remained strong - even in the face of sure death. What do we have to learn about the strength of their conviction? 

 

Read through Daniel 3, what do you think?

 

Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego found themselves in a hostile situation and they didn’t need a handbook or anything to help them survive, because they had God. They knew what they had to do because they had conviction. They knew that what they believed was right. Do you have the same type of conviction?

 

In the first chapter of Daniel we find that God is blessing some of the captive israelite boys because of their faithfulness. Even though they find themselves in a place where the people around them hate and mock God, they refused to let their surroundings dictate

how they worship. In the midst of what appears to be a pretty good life for our boys, we find that the king of babylon has decided to build a huge monument to himself and orders everyone to worship it!

‘King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.

So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language:

As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.” (Daniel 3 v 1-7)

 

Idols are just as real in our world today as they were back then - we just don’t see them made of gold and standing out anymore! We are all constantly faced with the temptation to bow down to things in our lives that come before our relationship in God. IT might be popularity, success, money or other things. 

 

But anyway, thousands of people surrounded this idol, the music plays and they all bow down before it, except.... Our three boys, Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego. They stand strong, even though they know it means certain death, and say...

 

“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 v 17-18)

 How much courage must have it taken for them to stand up to a king? What conviction and what faith they must have had in God! We can certainly learn from their example. In verses 19-27 we see that they are actually thrown into the fire (Sad times) but guess what?

“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.

The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."

He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,

and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” (Daniel 3 v 19-27)

 Something strange happens when we refuse to bow down to the idols of our world. When we have the courage to say ‘No’, to put God before our work and invite people to church. A very powerful God is standing by our side, celebrating our courage and keeping us going. It can be hard, but with God anything is possible.