TAKE ME BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS OH LORD (19)

Post date: Aug 28, 2019 3:57:00 AM

After Nebuchadnezzar had made his golden image he issued a decree and the penalty for anyone who will refuse to obey and follow the decree. He knew there will be people who will refuse to worship the image, he knew there will be resistance and he set up the penalty to deter and create fear in the people forcing them out of the fear of being killed alive by fire. But this decree and the penalty did not deter these three Hebrew brothers. This was the decree as proclaimed by the herald, “you are commanded, O peoples, nations, and speakers of every language,  that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, dulcimer, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.” Daniel 3:4-5. The demand was to worship the image.

This was the penalty for anyone irrespective of rank and position; “Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” Daniel 3:6 The penalty was immediate destruction and the furnace was made public and ready for everyone to see and know that the king was serious with his intention against anyone who will refuse to obey the commands of the decree. But despite what they saw, what they knew and observed from people looking at them, these three made up their mind, came together to honor and worship the Lord God alone instead of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had made. Their decision was to serve and worship the Lord alone irrespective of the cost and the fears and the people and the location. This was the report against them to the King; “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:1-12

This was the reaction of the king against them and the challenge he presented to them and his words against the God that these three had decided to follow and worship instated of the gold plated image made by Nebuchadnezzar; “Then Nebuchadnezzar in a furious rage gave a command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; and these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, very good. But if you do not worship, you shall be thrown at once into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can rescue you out of my hands?” Daniel 3:13-15

This is the most interesting part; when Satan challenges you, what would you do; what will you do, and what will you say to him? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego did not just keep quiet before Nebuchadnezzar, they did not just remain silent before him to see if God will help them, the spoke out to the hearing of the king and the people standing and watching and waiting to see them destroyed by the fire their decision and their determination to stand by it. That is what God wants to see in you – your decisions; that is what God wants to hear from you – your words of determination and purpose, and that is where God will take over those challenges against you, show Himself in your life, and change the situation right before the people wanting and waiting to see you destroyed. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, o Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Daniel 3:12-18. Prayer Request Click here