THE TRUE TESTIMONY OF SHADRACK, MESACH & ABEDNEGO

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is one of the most relishing stories in scripture (Daniel 3). For right in the face of a mighty king of an empire of Babylon that stretched as far as to include the mighty nation of God's own chosen people of Israel.

These three young men should have been expected to fear the fiercely burning fire but not when it required them to compromise their faith in the only living God who is but YAHWEH.

They defiantly stood before Nebuchadnezzar as to let him know that despite the threat of painful death which they faced if not to bow down to worship his image, they would never give in, for it would have jeopardized and compromised their faith in the living God. Rather the king had crossed the red line.

Very many lessons can be drawn out of all of this among which are the following:

We learn to be steadfast in our Faith in God

These three men stood steadfast in their faith in the face of the reality of death if not to worship the image. Despite all such, they chose not to let go of their faith in the living God. In fact, they courageously informed the king that even if he had thrown them in the furnace, their God would save them, but they also went on to categorically inform the king that; even when their God would not save them from the fire, they still wouldn't worship the image (Daniel 3:17-18). 

From this, we learn that our faith in the living God must not only be so when it is easy and convenient for us. God is always there for us even in very hard testing times, just as He did show up when these three young  men had been thrown in the fire. Imagine what impression it would have been had they given in to the evil demands of the king! Thus for scripture to say that the righteous shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4), (Romans 1:17), (Galatians 3:11), (Hebrews 10:38).

Our victory is a testimony to encourage others who find themselves in similar situations.

The story of these three men is one of the most mesmerizing stories ever to be in the Bible. Just at the start of the whole of it, these men looked pretty finished. Nobody would see a glim of salvation of any kind. Everybody would wonder where and how these men would get such courage in the face of a lively threat of painful death. But at the end of the whole of the story, we have a lively opportunity of having our faith in the living God strengthened.

Every time we remain firm, our victory sets a precedent for many future generations (faith for future generations). For after these men having stood firm and having been saved from the fire by the living God, and after the king having confirmed that indeed these three men stood firm because theirs is a living God, he passed a decree that there was no other God to worship besides the God of the three men (Daniel 3:23-29). 

And now we can stand firm in our faith because these men exhibited what faith can do in the face of danger. Every time we read about the courage of these young men, we are pretty touched. For this is one of the most interesting and encouraging stories the Bible ever tells us about. The story of these three young men will always live on.

How God finally saved these three men can never leave your weakening faith the same! The challenges we are faced with in our Christian journey should be opportunities to express that ours is a God who can't be limited by anything, if we do not wane in our faith. 

It is when God had saved the three men from the fire that the king realizes that much as there may be many other small tribal gods, the God of the three young men stands out, for He is JEHOVAH EL YON (Daniel 3:26). God loves to use you and I to express His Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and His Omniscience in you and me.

  
Reaffirmation that Jesus has been, He is, and will always be. 

When these men chose to be thrown in the fire rather than to worship the image, it so happened. A fourth person was seen in the fire together with them (Daniel 3:24-25). And the fourth person seen with them is none other than Jesus. Who else could it be? Who else could stop the fire? Who else could save them? Who else travels in the wind? For the appearance of the fourth person in the furnace is symbolic of the saving nature of Jesus. 

For there are a few more episodes when Jesus appeared in objects or in situations, e.g, the manna from heaven (Exodus 16), (John 6:58) the rock from which the Israelites got water (Numbers 20:11), the cleft of the rock where God asked Moses to hide so that Moses couldn't see God's face (Exodus 33:20-24). 

That when Shadrack, Mesach, and Abednego thrown in fire is one of the very few episodes when Jesus appears on earth before He is born in flesh, can be a very telling story of how much God must have been pleased with these young men. For they knew who their God is and they chose never to shame Him. Even in the face of such a burning furnace.

Remain respectful and calm, even in the face of those who seek your life 

These three young men remained calm and respectful of the king yet very assertive. These are virtues of confidence and firmness. In fact, they went on to apologize to the king for the way they had responded to his demands (Daniel 3:16). They still recognized he is king, for leadership is God's own project, no matter which leader. But God reigns above any leadership. Jesus is the Kings of kings and the Lord of all lords.

In conclusive terms, all this teaches us that the world needs proof. It is not that they don't believe that God is, and that we worship none other than Him alone, but what they need is proof that ours is the true God.

On the other hand, God loves it that if it is Him we worship, then we must learn to have faith in Him. And by having faith in Him, we help others come to know and understand that He (YAHWEH) is the ONE true God. And if we let others know that He is, then God's Kingdom will come.

Additionally, God wants to prove that we are not seeking Him selfishly. That we can use every moment that is available to us to prove to the world that ours is a God worth dying and giving life for. For God holds our life, whether here on earth or in the life after. For YAHWEH reigns over and above anything. Glory to Him alone.