Don’t Bow Down

         

                                                       Don't Bow Down

 

“He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like the son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God- come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.” Daniel 3: 25-26

As a kid I used to hear the story of Daniel’s friends delivered from the fire in Sunday School. As a child who was raised with the flannel boards I can picture the characters on that flannel board and the telling of a story of God’s power of deliverance from the fire.  But as an adult that story has taken on a whole new meaning. Knowing that Daniel’s friends weren’t just pulled from the fire but delivered in a way that was unexplainable is a reminder to my heart of a God who delivers, redeems and restores. And his name is Jesus.

They came out untouched the Bible says the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair on their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. 

How is that even possible? They were bound and the Bible says that fire was seven times hotter than all the others before, the soldiers assigned were the elite handpicked by the king. A blazing fire and they weren’t touched?

People watched as this all went down. People chose to bow down and  they refused and continued to stand firm even as they heard the sound to bow. The One who holds all Authority was showing them that He was faithful to deliver them. They did not bow and fall down to serve the gods or worship the gold statue. God rescues us.

What stops my heart from believing that truth? Sit and tell the Lord what is on your heart. 

They had to stand firm. Even as everything around them was screaming at them to bow and worship they remained and stood firm. Daniel’s friends  were determined not to choose fear. That fire was blazing. Sometimes that feels exactly like what we experience. They were told to bow or the fire would result and they chose to keep their heads bowed to the only God worthy of  worship. And there was no smell of fire on them. 

What does this mean for us? 

Father,

Trusting in you can look pretty crazy in a world that just wants us to trust in our own beliefs. Remind my heart that the God we serve rescues us from our thoughts and feelings. The reminder to keep praying and believing to trust in something we can’t touch of feel our flesh will constantly fight against that. There is no other god able to deliver us and give us that kind of freedom we receive living for a Living God. Thank you Jesus.

Amen