Daniel 3:18

‘“But if not”’
(Daniel 3:18)

Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, perhaps better known by their assigned Babylonian names ‘Shadrach… Meshach… and… Abednego’(Daniel 1:7), were exiled from Judah after ‘Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it’(Daniel 1:1ff). Nevertheless, they fared well, even gaining some authority ‘“over the affairs of… Babylon”’(Daniel 3:12).

However, then Nebuchadnezzar set up an ‘image of gold’(Daniel 3:1ff.), possibly intended to represent the ‘“king”’(Daniel 2:37ff.) himself, and decreed that anyone failing to worship the image would be thrown into a ‘“fiery furnace”’(Daniel 3:6)! In faithfulness to God, and His command against bowing to ‘“anything”’(Exodus 20:4ff.) like that, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused, boldly declaring: ‘“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, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up”’(Daniel 3:17-18) – note, even ‘“if not”’! It’s good to reflect on this response, and such possibilities, for when we face a ‘fiery trial’(1 Peter 4:12) of our own.

First we should note that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had no doubt that God could rescue them. He ‘“is able”’ they declared. All three knew that God is able to do anything ‘according to His will… and no one can stop His hand’(Daniel 4:35) – as even Nebuchadnezzar later acknowledged, presumably partly at least because he saw these men rescued from his ‘fiery furnace’(Daniel 3:20) after throwing them in!

However, we should also note how God did allow them to be thrown in, and that His will might be for us to go through trials too, which He could easily have prevented, perhaps so that we can say with Job: ‘“He knows the way that I take. When He has tried me, I will come out like gold”’(Job 23:10ff., cf. 1 Peter 1:6-7). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out in this life, not even ‘singed’(Daniel 3:27)! Job came through too, before moving on ‘old and full of days’(Job 42:17). Nevertheless, it might be God’s sovereign will that we get burnt in some way or even ‘slain’(Hebrews 11:37) – the focus of this study – the ‘“if not”’ possibility.

So how do we respond to that reality?

First we’re to adopt a right perspective. The author to the Hebrews clearly had this episode in mind (and the book of Daniel more generally) when referring to those who ‘through faith… quenched the power of fire’(Hebrews 11:33-34) before mentioning those ‘slain’ above, especially given the shut ‘mouths of lions’(Hebrews 11:33, cf. Daniel 6:22) mentioned there too. A key characteristic of faith described in that chapter is understanding that we’re ‘strangers and pilgrims on the earth… seeking a… better… heavenly… city’(Hebrews 11:13-16, cf. Hebrews 13:14 & Daniel 12:2ff.), accepting, if necessary, ‘ill treatment with God’s people’(Hebrews 11:25) for ‘Christ’(Hebrews 11:26) whilst here. It’s about joyfully understanding, with Paul, that ‘to live is Christ, and to die… gain’(Philippians 1:21ff.) and that ultimately ‘all things work together for good for those who love God… who are called according to His purpose… in Christ Jesus our Lord’(Romans 8:28-39) – possibly the ‘“fourth”’(Daniel 3:25) man in the fire here, who’s now with us ‘“always, even to the end”’(Matthew 28:20, cf. John 14:16-20).

This should inspire great confidence and our total allegiance, as shown by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Paul had ‘confidence’(Philippians 1:25) that he would be kept alive so long as God had fruitful labour ‘prepared’(Ephesians 2:10) for him, expressing the same idea right to the end of his ministry, that he would be ‘delivered’(2 Timothy 4:17ff.) and preserved until the time set for him to enter into God’s ‘heavenly Kingdom’(2 Timothy 4:18). In the meantime, he showed total allegiance to our ‘Lord’(Romans 14:8) whilst running the ‘“race”’(Acts 20:24, cf. Hebrews 12:1) set before him.

This way of thinking helps protect us from inappropriate compromise with the ‘world’(Romans 12:2) and becoming ‘“choked”’(Luke 8:14) by its distractions, or even ‘sin which so easily entangles’(Hebrews 12:1). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didn’t compromise with the world’s idols, even facing possible death, let alone simply losing their comfortable lifestyle. Similarly, when faced with coercive authorities or cultures, the apostles boldly declared: ‘“We must obey God rather than men”’(Acts 5:29), knowing, like Jesus, that such menaces are permitted ‘“no power at all… unless… given… from above”’(John 19:11), whether the plan be our rescue, or not.

Finally, we should note how such people become shining ‘witnesses’(Hebrews 12:1) and that by following suit we can become ‘lights’(Philippians 2:15ff.) in ‘“the world”’(Matthew 5:14) too. Whether through miraculous rescues or the confident ‘“if not”’ of His people, God ‘speaks’(Hebrews 11:4).

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