Even If He Does Not: Part 2

Recently, I was reading a familiar story from the Book of Daniel, the basics of which many of us learned as children in Sunday school. 

The story centers around three young Hebrew men who faced an extraordinary decision.  Their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – or at least that’s how most of us remember them.

But these were actually the names that King Nebuchadnezzar gave them after taking them into captivity. Trying to make them forget their Jewish roots and indoctrinate them into a new way of life, he gave them pagan monikers that paid homage to foreign gods.

However… the three men didn’t care what anyone called them. They would always remember who they really were.

Shadrach was still Hananiah, which means “the LORD shows grace.”

Meshach was still Mishael, which means “who is like God?”.

Abednego was still Azariah, which means “the LORD helps.”

Nebuchadnezzar could take the young men out of Israel, but couldn’t take the Israel out of the men.

Holding tight to their God-given identities, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, along with their friend Daniel, continued to thrive in captivity.  

Their careers flourished, and they rose quickly through ranks of Nebuchadnezzar’s leadership team. For a while, it seemed as if their faith and hard work had spared them from significant devastation.

“Happiness and stability are fleeting when you live in a broken kingdom.

King Nebuchadnezzar built a towering statue of gold, silver and bronze. Then he declared that everyone would bow down and worship it at the sound of his alarm. The penalty for insubordination would be certain death.”

Of course Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah would not succumb to idolatry. Even as Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them in the furnace, they refused to bow down. They knew who really held their fate in His hands; they answered to the Most High King.