Are You in the Fire? You Will Not Be Burned!

One of the grandest scenes of faith on display is in the third chapter of Daniel:

"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)

The Hebrew Children Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-nego refused to bowed down to the Golden Image of their lord and patron, the King of Babylon.

They believed that the Lord would come through for them. Yet I was always caught up in the near-fatalism of “Even if He does not, we will not bow down to your gods.” I wanted to have that kind of faith, one in which I would hold onto God no matter what happened.

I used to interpret that verse in line with Job 13: 15:

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."

When I first read this verse, I was really impressed with this man, a good guy who was going out of his way to declare his faithfulness in God. Many believers emphasize the first part of the verse, as if such faith demonstrates a courageous trust in God. On the contrary, it exposes the misunderstanding and distorted view that Job had of God the Father. He actually believed that God would even consider killing him! The truth of God's character is anything but:

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Ezekiel 33: 11)

Jesus revealed the heart of His Father for the world, including you and me:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

God does not want to kill anyone, nor is that his express intention for anyone.

Unlike Job's fatalism, the three Hebrew children in Daniel 3 demonstrated Biblical faith, seeing that which is invisible (Hebrews 11: 27). They knew and believed that God loved them (1 John 4: 16), and their knowledge of God's character expanded their trust in Him.

If you are going through a fiery trial, expand your knowledge of God's love for you. The greater your knowledge of God's love, the greater your faith in Him, and He will cause you to reign in life (Romans 5: 17)