When trials and tests come our way, it is our time to prove that we really are among those God has called, chosen, and that are faithful.
Daniel’s companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, stood
the test. (These were their Hebrew names, which gave honour to the LORD.
However, while in Babylonian captivity they were renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, names given them to honour Babylonian gods.)
When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, commanded that
everyone bow before the image of gold he made, these three men refused to bow.
They believed in and worshiped the one true God that we know
as Jesus. They refused to bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s gold image.
"Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to
bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the
king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I
have set up?" - Daniel 3:13-14
"Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound
of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of
musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye
worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" -
Daniel 3:15
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to
the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee 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 out of thine hand, O king.
“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not
serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." -
Daniel 3:16-18
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah testified to the king, that
their God is able to deliver them from the burning fiery furnace, and He will
deliver them out of the king’s hand.
They knew that God can work such miracles. But their faith
was not limited to Him performing miracles for them. They were willing to die
living for God. Rather than give up their faith for lack of a miracle and bow
to an idol, they were willing to suffer burning in a fiery furnace.
We have been called and chosen. When trials and tests come
our way, are we ready to give up our faith and go back to the world, sinning
again? Or are we willing to stand for Jesus, no matter what we must go through,
even if it means suffering and dying for our faith?
What happened to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah?
"Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of
his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he
spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more
than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were
in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the
burning fiery furnace." - Daniel 3:19-20
Because the furnace was exceeding hot, the flame of the fire
slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:22)
"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up
in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men
bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O
king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of
the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of
God. [God in a physical body was with the men in the fire. He is Emmanuel – God
with us.]
"Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the
burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye
servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.
"Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of
the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's
counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire
had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats
changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
"Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the
God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered
his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded
their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own
God.
"Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation,
and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a
dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
"Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, in the province of Babylon." - Daniel 3:24-30
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah stood faithful to God,
testifying of His power and willing to give up their life for Him.
Jesus spared them from death and did the miraculous! The
fire had no power on them. Not a hair on their head was singed, the fire didn’t
touch their clothing, there wasn’t even the smell of smoke on them!
We have been called and chosen when we obeyed the gospel,
our covenant with God. (Acts 2:38) Will we be faithful, even if we are faced
with death?
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to
your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
shall call." - Acts 2:38-39
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall
overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are
with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." - Revelation 17:14
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