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A Stirring Example of Faith

We find an inspiring example of God helping His faithful servants in a time of crisis in the book of Daniel. Three Jewish captives were ordered by the king of Babylon to bow before an idolatrous image or be killed. Their situation could not have been worse. Yet their commitment to God was unwavering. They believed His promise to help them. They trusted Him.

Notice their response to the king: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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. 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'" (Daniel 3:16-18).

The king carried out his threat and had them thrown into the fire. But God miraculously spared their lives. Then, in amazement, the king summoned them to walk out of the fiery furnace (verse 26). "And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!'" (verses 27-28).

This and other biblical examples of God's love and faithfulness are preserved in the Scriptures to give us the courage and faith to believe He can help us with difficult circumstances that may arise in our lives. These young men did not know whether God would intervene to spare them or not.

Nevertheless, they were determined to remain faithful to Him regardless of the consequences. Their outstanding example of faithful obedience remains an inspiration for us today.

If we always put God first He has promised never to abandon us. Regardless of whether He chooses to intervene for us when we want Him to, "... He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6).