But Even If He Does Not

The music started, and an entire plain of people dropped to the ground. Three men stayed on their feet.

Nebuchadnezzar had built an image of gold sixty cubits high on the plain of Dura and gathered every official in the empire for its dedication. The rule was simple. When the instruments sounded, everyone bowed. Anyone who refused went into a burning furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were exiles from Judah. They had been taken from their homes as boys, given Babylonian names, trained in Babylonian schools, and promoted to high office. They had accepted a great deal. Bowing to the image was the line they would not cross.

The king was furious, but he offered a second chance, and ended it with a challenge.

And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?

-- Daniel 3:15

Their reply is calm. They tell him they have no need to defend themselves. Then they make two statements.

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. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods.

-- Daniel 3:17-18

First, He is able. They have full confidence in God's power. Second, but if not. They have no claim on how He will use it. Their obedience was not a bargain made in exchange for rescue. They had settled the question of whom they served before they knew whether they would live.

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The furnace was heated seven times hotter. The flames killed the soldiers who carried them to the opening. The three fell in, bound hand and foot.

Then the king leapt to his feet. He had thrown in three men, tied. He now saw four, walking freely in the middle of the fire, and the fourth looked like a son of the gods.

When they came out, the officials crowded around to examine them. Their hair was not singed, their robes were unharmed, and there was no smell of smoke on them. The only things the fire had consumed were the ropes.

God did not keep them from the furnace. He joined them in it. The rescue they had hoped for came, but it came from inside the flames, and it came with company.

A quiet bargain often hides inside our faith. I will trust You, Lord, and You will make sure the test comes back clear, the business survives, the child comes home. We may not notice the bargain until the answer goes the other way. Then the disappointment shows us what our trust had been resting on.

These three men show us another foundation. They were sure of God's ability and honest about their ignorance of His plan. Their faith held both. He is able kept them from despair. But if not kept them from making demands. What remained was loyalty to God for His own sake.

That kind of faith is strong because nothing can take away what it depends on. If your peace depends on the outcome, every piece of bad news can shake it. If your peace depends on God, the furnace can be heated seven times hotter and you still have the one thing you were trusting.

The story is honest about the cost. They were not spared the fire, and you may not be spared yours. Some families reading this are already in it. Look at what they found there. They met a fourth figure they had not seen from the outside, and they discovered that the flames had destroyed only what was binding them.

You can ask God boldly for deliverance. They expected it, and so may you. You can also decide today, before you know the ending, whom you will serve. That decision is yours to make, and it will hold.