Civil Disobedience
After a rain-free day yesterday, we woke to more rain today. Rain that is to continue for several more days to some degree. So today ended up being like a “snow day” for me. I stayed in took care of some duties around the house. My activity in clearing out our basement provided me some good “functional exercise.” I was able to move some book shelves and other pieces of furniture relying on patience and little ingenuity.
Last night I was able to attend an event that focuses on energy development in Larimer County. It was good to see BJ Nikkel one of my former House Members who is co-chair of Lairmer Energy Action Project (LEAP).
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… The king said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued these men who serve and trust him. They disobeyed my orders and risked their lives rather than bow down and worship any god except their own. Daniel 3:28
Benevolent dictator. was not how you would describe the kings who ruled nations in the Old Testament era. This was especially true of King Nebuchadnezzar. The fierce King of Babylon was ruler of the known world and did not give second thought to punishing with death those who disobeyed or just those who did not please him. So when a huge statue was erected in his honor and all were told to bow, all bow…or else!
In a sea of people on their hands and knees it is not difficult to spot three men who standing upright. The situation that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego found themselves in was the result of being “set up” due to the jealousy of those in the King’s court who did not like the honor that had been bestowed upon these foreign exiles. Because of their position and status the King brought them in and confirmed the reports and gave them a “second chance.” They were told to bow, “or else.” The response of these three men is as bold as standing in a sea of kneeling subject.
Here is what they said, “Your Majesty, we will not try to defend ourselves. If the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power, then he will. But even if he doesn’t, Your Majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18
Their defiance outraged the King and he heated a furnace where they were to be thrown “seven times” hotter than normal. It was so hot that the soldiers who threw them into the furnace were killed. I recall a tour of a coal-fired power plant. As the guide prepared to open a hatch to show us the inside of the furnace, he cautioned us to “stand back” and told us how that “back draft” can happen on occasion and flames can leap from the chamber. Such was the fate of those who threw the three Hebrews in the furnace.
We see a miracle of deliverance takes place. The King sees one who looks like, “the Son of God” in the fire with the men. So great was the Lord’s protection that not even the smell of smoke remained on the clothes of these three faithful followers.
A few weeks ago, local Pastor Dan Nygaard, was sharing a devotional on this passage to our Tuesday prayer gathering. He caught my attention by saying the story is not recorded about the miraculous deliverance. That the true story is really about the resolve of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they faced what should have been certain death.
We see this in the response of the King when he says, “…They disobeyed my orders and risked their lives rather than bow down and worship any god except their own.” The early church apostles faced this dilemma. They were threatened and told not to preach in the name of Jesus. This is how they responded, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)
Over the centuries followers of Christ have had to face that decision. We have seen it recently this year with the martyr of twenty-one Egyptian Christians. We speak of faith that enables us to persevere and to overcome personal trials and challenges. But the greatest test of faith and commitment of faith, is to face threats, punishment and even death because we remain faithful to the Lord. If that time comes, when that time comes may our faith be as strong as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the twenty-one Coptic Christians and thousands of others in between those events and say, “we won’t bow, we won’t deny, we wont’ recant our faith in Jesus Christ!”