The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego gives us an insight into what faith really is. After building the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar made the decree that when the people heard the music they were to bow down and worship the image. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego defied this order, not becasue they were beligerent or rebels, but becasue their loyalty was to a different King. When brought before Nebuchadnezzar personally he gave them an opportunity to amend by bowing down and worshipping the image. This opportunity came with the same threat as before stating that if they didn’t comply they would be thrown into a blazing furnace; the intent being a horrible, painful death.
The response of the three Israelites is where we find a powerful understanding of faith. King Nebuchadnezzar had mocking ly said to them, “what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?â€Â Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused the King’s ‘offer’ and informed him that their God could indeed deliver them from the King’s hand and the blazing furnace. They were fully aware that this answer would result in their being thrown into the furnace. They did not, however, know whether they would come out of the furnace as some might suppose. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were completely confident that God could deliver them from the blazing furnace alive, but faith is much more than believing in God to do what we would want Him to do. Faith is not just confidence in what God can do. Obviously if god can create an entire world, part a sea and allow thousands to pass through unharmed, defeat giants and mighty armies and so many more miracles that these three were aware of He could deliver them out of this furnace.Â
Faith is fully trusting whomever the object of your faith. For these three, faith was fully trusting God, including recognizing that He is the sovereign and not us. The final part of their response to the king was, “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.â€Â God may or may not deliver us from this situation, but we are not what matters most – He is.Â
Sometimes God intervenes and delivers us out of situations and sometimes He does not. Neirther one means He loves us any more or any less. Faith tells us to trust God, not just to deliever us out of our problem but to make Him the focus of all that we love and desire. Making Him this focus is what we are created for, it is our purpose. Faith allows us to fulfill our purpose and place God above ourselves.