Main Idea: Faith believes in God’s power without presuming upon God’s action.
A Look at the Text:
Rather than dreaming of a great image, in today’s text, Nebuchadnezzar crafted one (Dan. 3:1).
Not only was it made of gold, but it was absolutely massive, standing about ninety feet tall. To celebrate, the king gathered just about everyone in positions of influence for a grand dedication (Dan. 3:2-3). With this, they were commanded to bow and pay homage to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue when the musicians played (Dan. 3:4-7).
While most acquiesced to the king’s command, some of the Jews refused to participate in this idolatry.
Specifically, Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were called before the king for their disobedience and given one more chance (Dan. 3:11-15). If they wouldn’t bow, they would be cast into a fiery furnace, and certainly no god could deliver them from that (Dan. 3:15).
In response, the three Judean exiles stood their ground. They asserted that their God was certainly capable of delivering them (Dan. 3:17). Yet, even if He didn’t, they still would not bow to another god (Dan. 3:18). Enraged, Nebuchadnezzar had the furnace heated seven times hotter than normal, hot enough that it killed the men who cast them into the fire (Dan. 3:19-22).
But the fire only burned off their bonds, and the three men stood with another in their company (Dan. 3:24-25). God had both joined them and delivered them. As such, the king could do nothing but bless and extol the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan. 3:28).
Bringing it Home:
While they were given Babylonian names, the identities of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah remained steadfast—they worshipped Yahweh and Him alone. In faith, they refused to participate in idolatry, and yet even when they were sentenced, they didn’t presume upon God’s deliverance.
It’s common for people to presume upon God and call it faith. Still others doubt God’s capability and believe they’re just being realistic. True faith believes in God’s power and trusts Him with the results.
God has the ability to do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, however He wants, because He is God. He is not limited in anything. The Creator of all can even bend the rules of nature to do His bidding. Yet that doesn’t suddenly make Him captive to our wills. We might believe God for something great, and He may or may not answer in accordance with His sovereign purpose.
Let us then always boldly believe in God and in His power, while not presuming that He must do things as we desire. His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9) and not just higher, but better.
Challenge:
Do I trust God when prayers are not granted?