Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV) 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Yesterday we talked about waiting when we are facing a trial. Long-term waiting can be discouraging and difficult but when we are in the midst of some hard situation, the difficulty of waiting is magnified. Yesterday we began looking at the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. They were faced with the prospect of waiting in the midst of a fiery furnace. It would not seem that this would qualify as waiting except that God delivered them from this trial. They survived the furnace.
There were a few things we learned yesterday that could help us wait. We must remember that we have both an advocate and an adversary as we wait. God is our advocate and the devil is our adversary. Our adversary will magnify the difficulty of the situation while our advocate is there to help us through it.
We must remember that the words “always” and “never” are traps the devil sets for us to discourage us. Very few things actually fall into these two categories. However, when we allow the devil to deceive us into thinking people and things always go against us or that they will never change, it is hard to fight the battle of waiting. Instead, we need to remember that God “always” causes us to triumph and that he will “never” leave us nor forsake us.
As we ended yesterday’s post, we saw that the king was very angry that these three young men would not bow to his golden image. He told them that they had one more chance to bow when the music played. If they did not bow, they would burn in the fiery furnace. Then he makes the challenge that we hear from the devil every time we face the fire. “What god can deliver you from my hands?”
The first thing we must do when faced with a trial is answer that question. Do we believe that our God can deliver us from the problem we face? I have faced many things over the years. There were times when I did not know how I was going to feed and clothe my family. There were times when it looked like we might lose our home or have our power shut off. There were times when I faced ministry crises that I thought would destroy me.
In those times, I often had to fight my mind in the faith battle of waiting. My mother was a world-class worrier and she taught me well. All of the negative possibilities would flood through my mind. I would have to fight the pictures of bad things happening as I meditated on the promises of God. When I was in these kinds of battles, I would have to close my eyes, quiet my mind and ask myself, “What do I really believe?” When I would do that, I would find a place in my spirit where the fearful thoughts did not live and I would have peace because what I really believe is that God is faithful and that he can and will deliver me from any circumstance.
We do not fail or succeed based on what we feel. We fail or succeed based on what we believe. We can strengthen what we believe by meditating on the Word of God and especially on the promises that pertain to what we are facing. Believing is not a matter of chance or some special gift from God. When you were saved, you became a “believer.” That means you have the capacity to believe. You can energize that capacity by filling your mind with the promises of God.
Romans 10:17 (NKJV) 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego did not gain the victory over the furnace when they were thrown into it. They gained the victory when they answered the king’s question. If we answer our accuser in the same way they answered the evil king, we will win our battle of waiting before it begins.
The first thing they say to the king in their answer is this. “We do not need to answer you in this matter.” There are two ways this statement can help us. First, there was no need for them to answer because the king knew they would not bow. The king knew they were Hebrews. He had placed them in their position because their relationship with God was such that they were men of integrity. He saw their lifestyle and he knew that they would not compromise.
It is important that we settle before any trial that we will not compromise. It is difficult to know how any of us will react under pressure until the pressure is there. Nevertheless, we can determine in our hearts that we will not compromise our relationship with God no matter what we may face. If we cultivate that kind of attitude continually, we will more easily hold to it when we are challenged.
There is a second reason they did not need to answer the king. They did not have to explain or excuse their walk with God to anyone. I believe this is also an important attitude to develop when we have to wait through a trial. The devil will challenge you. He will accuse you of being foolish. He will give you all the reasons you should compromise. He will do it inwardly and he will do it through people or circumstances. You do not have to submit to that.
The devil used the king in the case of the three young men. He told them that compromise would lead to life and to follow their principles would lead to death. They told the king they did not even have to answer the question. There was no option for them. They would not compromise.
When the devil challenges you with reasons why you should not wait for God, do not answer him. We often hear the words, “You owe an explanation.” This may come from others via words or from our own heart via thoughts and feelings. You do not owe anyone an explanation for obeying God. The only one you need to explain anything to is God.
These three young men refused to explain themselves to the king. What they said next was not an explanation but a declaration. The king wanted to think he was in control of the situation. The young men let him know that he was not. That is how you can win the battle of waiting through trial. The trial is not in control of the situation. The devil is not in control of the situation. You and God are in control. Do not be afraid to let the devil, the world and your own flesh know that this is the case.
Tomorrow we will look further at what these three men said to the king that put them in control of their waiting. Today, look and see what is challenging you to compromise. Take your stand and do not feel you need to explain yourself to anyone. Ask yourself what you believe not how you feel. Of course, you should be accountable to those who have the oversight for your life. You need to let them know what is happening and be open to their counsel. However, you do not have to listen to the devil, your flesh or ungodly people and circumstances. You do not owe them an explanation. Give them no explanation but declare to them the truth of the Word of God.
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