Death-Defying Faith

Today we are continuing our study on the Christian Foundations looking at Daniel 3, asking the questions:

• “What does the everyday Christian life look like?”
• “What’s required for ongoing, genuine relationship with God.”

So far, we have learned that followers of Christ “Determine to be Different”. This is not only an option, it’s the law. Being different, set apart from the ordinary, is the only way we can maintain our identity as God’s Covenant people in a hostile, foreign world. But as we step out, we will be noticed and suffer the consequences of being different.

Background/ Context

let’s look at the context and background of Ch 3.

Statue:

• The dimensions make it out to be a very tall obelisk and likely would have been decorated with images of the gods and possibly Nebuchadnezzar’s likeness as well.
• Historians suspect the king’s intent was to create unity under his relatively new reign over a multitude of people groups by having everyone swear allegiance to him and to worship this statue.
• However, the Jews couldn’t worship the statue, not only was it written in their laws, but they also had a memorable object lesson recorded in Exodus 32 where Aaron decided to cast a golden calf for everyone to worship when they thought Yahweh wasn’t going to show up. It didn’t end well.

Furnace:

• Furnaces were common for making bricks and this one would have been on hand on the plain of Dura possibly from making the statue.
• It was not a common form of death sentence, but it was on hand at the time, and Nebuchadnezzar was a creative thinker.
• 7 times hotter is figurative not literal, it’s impossible. The furnace could only go to ???degrees
• From what I’ve learned, it may have looked like this. Which helps us understand the logistics of it all.

Shadrack, Meshack & Abednego:

• We’re not given a time when this happens, but it is still early on in Nebuchadnezzar’s rule and whilst it looked like these guys had finished their studies and were now working, they would still have been young men: late teens, early twenties.
• No one knows where Daniel was at this time.

Just like School

As I was preparing for this study, it occurred to me what I was reading was very similar to school. Now, before all you teachers and parents start thinking, “There is no fiery furnace where I teach/my kids go to school”, let me explain.

1. One of the best ways we help our students learn is to give explicit instructions. Be very clear what you’re asking, so there is no confusion or doubt about what is required.
2. We are to clearly define the consequences of following, and not following, instructions.
3. When a student chooses not to comply, we remind them of the task and consequences. We want to give them every chance to learn and do the right thing, not only for their benefit, but for the whole class’.
4. Finally, if the student still chooses defiance, we must follow through with the consequence. This is critical for our credibility as a teacher and the long-term success for the student and our class.

In chapter 3 of Daniel, we can see a similar scenario. Nebuchadnezzar has given explicit instructions of what is expected of his people. Most have complied. However, there is a small group who feel the king needs to know what is happening behind his back—just like school. Rather than being concerned for the king’s credibility however, they were motivated by jealousy. We read in Chapter 1 when our lot had finished their studies, Daniel 1:18-20

¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Daniel 1:18-20

But Not Like School

Regardless of the tattler’s motivation, or the king’s regard for the offenders, Nebuchadnezzar is confronted with the situation where 3 officials are defying his instructions very publicly. He gives them a chance to change their mind.

They decline.

Now let’s put Nebuchadnezzar’s epic rage to the side for a moment, as a king, he can’t afford for these guys to get away with their defiance. In order to save face, he has to follow through with the consequences. From a worldly point of view, this process (not the particular details) seems reasonable.

But Yahweh had also explained His expectations to his people, clearly outlined the consequences for complying and defying Him and, after hundreds of years warning, he had followed through. It was the very reason the Jews were in Babylon in the first place, one of God’s consequences of defiance was exile.

So, our guys find themselves in a very tricky situation and they must make a choice. Obey God, or the King. In one sense they have become the battle ground. Let’s look at v. 15. Daniel 3:15b

“…But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Daniel 3:15b

In this battle of wills, Nebuchadnezzar unwittingly threw the gauntlet at God’s feet. And God’s response was game on, “Challenge accepted.”

THE STUDY

1. What did they do?

They said, “No”. They put their death-defying faith in God and refused the king and in doing so, became dead men walking.

2. How did they do it?

A. Politely and respectfully

Much like Cain instructed last week.

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

Daniel 3: 16-18

Not only did they say “No”, they offered no defence. Because they had none, they were guilty. Knowing what they were being asked to do, being aware of the consequences, they politely and respectfully defied the king.

B. From a three-pronged platform

“… the God we serve is able to deliver us…”

1. Identity: “God” in v17 in Aramaic translates “the true God” — we know and are known by Yahweh.
2. Covenant: “We serve” – the two-sided agreement: He provides, protects and preserves. We obey. 
3. Faith: “Is able to deliver us” – even if he doesn’t, we know he can.

If you’re bible translation says, “If he can, he will save us”, change it. That’s not what was said, nor is that what it means. This was not about doubt, but humility, they knew wholeheartedly the True God could save them, they just didn’t presume to know God’s plans for that particular situation.

C. From within the fire

Do you notice that God did not save them from the fire? He saved them within the fire. He could have easily shut the whole situation down before they got that far. But rather than removing the trial, the enemy or the obstacle, he allowed his faithful servants to be put into the blazing furnace where he met them and walked with them and delivered them.

Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego accepted their death sentence not knowing but trusting. What happened to them had never happened to anyone before. They had no historical context to base their decision on, they knew the stories, their history. They knew God was an awesome God who moved in power with signs and wonders. Could he save them from the fire? Yes. Would he? They didn’t know.

Faith is believing what we cannot see. The three put their faith in Yahweh and the covenant relationship when they willingly defied the king. Effectively fulfilling the prophetic words of Isaiah:

¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. (God, the Mighty One)”

Isaiah 43:12

3. What were the consequences?

• They didn’t die, the guards who bound them did.

• God showed up and outclassed all of Babylon, the informants, and the false gods.

• Nebuchadnezzar witnessed Yahweh as the God of gods and The Mighty One, saviour, protector, preserver and provider of his servants.

• Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego demonstrated their death-defying faith and were rewarded.

• They earned more credit and standing in the eyes of the king. Daniel 3:30

• They were forerunners demonstrating the truth of Jesus words in John.

²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.

John 12:26

4. So what?

The world we live in is not issuing the same challenges we read in the book of Daniel. Today the challenges are different:

1. There is no god. Or worse,
2. God is hateful and/or irrelevant.

And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why these challenges are being issued.

We are at war. For 2000 years the Church has been responsible for serving, teaching, healing, witnessing and proclaiming God’s love through action, service and word. But for 2000 years the Church has also been warring, killing, judging, persecuting, isolating and wounding.

Not That Kind of War

Yes, we are at war. But Paul teaches in Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Here the terms “authorities” and “powers” refer to the spiritual, not the earthly. He goes on to explain 2 Corinthians 4:4

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

We are at war with Satan, sin and worldly influences. Not people. So, when the god of this age, Satan, shines a light on the church, which aspect is the world going to see? For they are blind to glory of God.

So How Do We Fight ?

How do we fight this battle? What part do we play in God’s response to these challenges? We cannot change 2000 years of horrendous history, nor should we try to rewrite it and pretend it didn’t happen. It did. So many atrocities have been/are being done, in the name of our precious Lord.

We are incapable of making up for the pain inflicted. We are ill-equipped to take on the spiritual realm. And aggressively arguing that God is love, to a person blind to the glory of God, is counterproductive. As Daniel wrote, as Paul taught, and as Christ demonstrated, we fight this war by humbly and prayerfully submitting to God and obeying his will. i.e. we are to live holy, godly lives—Determining to be different— fulfilling our part of the Covenant agreement to the glory of God. 

When we do this, we will stand out. It’s both inevitable and God’s will. That’s our role—to be witnesses: a light on the hill which Satan is determined to snuff out. Just like SM&A, this battle takes place within our daily lives, in us. We are the battle ground, and the world has front row seats, watching and judging. Attack comes because like them, we are citizens of heaven AND residents of the world and every day we must choose between the two. We cannot change history, we cannot take on the spiritual, but we can demonstrate God’s declaration, “Challenge accepted”.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Do we believe God is who he says He is? Can He do what He says He can? If we truly believe this, then in the midst of the battle, within the fiery furnace, let our actions and words affirm God’s truth, “I AM”: I AM God Almighty, the One True God, The first and the last, above all others, the God of all mankind. I AM the bread of life, the resurrection, and the light of the world. I am with my people, and am mighty to save, I am the one who is, and was and is to come, the almighty. The Lord our God, our stronghold, refuge and saviour, defender, redeemer, saviour of the world.

Through our actions, allow God to demonstrate his death-defying love in the face of the world’s defiance.

What does the everyday Christian life look like? What’s required for ongoing, genuine relationship with God? Death-defying faith. Let us demonstrate just how powerful that is when, through us, God says, game on, “Challenge Accepted”.

5. Questions to Ponder:

1. What does death-defying faith look like in your life?
2. What challenges does the world throw at you as a faithful witness of Christ?
3. How does God use you in the battle to witness His power and love?