iBelieve Truth: Devotional for Women 18 March 2022
God Is and God Will
By Tiffany Thibault
We have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O King. – Daniel 3:16b &17
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego only wanted to live their lives and never asked for trouble to come looking for them. Trouble came anyway. These three had been brought as young men to Babylon as war captives. They excelled at their work, and were appointed to leadership over the province of Babylon. However, some men, who were close to the King, hated these three men for one reason: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were Jews.
In an effort to remove them from power, the evil tattle-tellers noticed that these three did not obey the command from the king of the land: to bow down before the statue of the king. Bowing down to anything was an act of worship, and they desired to obey God above man, even though they lived in a country where God was not honored or even worshipped.
When the King asked them about it, (and threatened them with the fiery furnace) they replied: “We have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O King.”
The King was furious and had the heat turned up in the fiery furnace 7 times hotter, then commanded the guards to throw these men in. As they were arrested, tied up and carried toward the furnace, they heard the fires crack, they felt the intense heat, and yet they still believed in their God. Due to the overwhelming heat, the guards died as they drew close, dropping Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the furnace.
However, these three men believed that God was able to deliver them before they got into the fire, but if not, that God would deliver them from the fire. They knew that nothing was impossible with God. He would deliver them. They were confident of that.
It continues in the story to say that everyone now can see four men (one with the face of a God) walking around in the fire! In astonishment, the king commanded the men to come out of the fire.
There are a few things that this story tells us:
Sometimes God delivers us before the trouble, sometimes he delivers us while we are in trouble. God had the power to prevent this situation from happening. He had a purpose for revealing His power. Can you trust Him to work in you and your troubles?
We always have a choice in our faith. At any point these men could have questioned how important it was to take a stand. They had been given plenty of time to recant what they believed. In the trouble you might find yourself in, can you hold true to God even if He doesn’t show up in your timing?
If we are walking with the Lord, the troubles will not linger around us. These guys came out of this intense furnace intact. Not one burn at all! Not even the smell of smoke on them! In the troubles you are walking through in faith, you will not be consumed by them. They will not linger or cripple you! You will emerge stronger than ever. Don’t give up!!
We are honored for our unwavering faith. These men did not waver in their faith. It amazed the king. He worshipped God, and made a law that no one could dishonor God again. He then promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. God honored these men for their faith and trust in Him, and rewarded them in their careers. Cling to what you know to be true about the Lord. He will honor you for it! Don’t for one tiny moment even doubt the work of God in your life and your circumstances. He is most certainly at work in all of your troubles!
This story is so encouraging to me, and certainly strengthens my faith. Will you join with me today in saying, “Our God is able to deliver me from this trouble, and He will deliver me, but if not, I will not serve any other god?” May we be found faithful in our walk with the Lord this very day.
