“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18
The response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is the focal point of the story. When tested, they chose to remain faithful to God in spite of the consequences. Though they had confidence in God’s ability to rescue them from persecution, they did not demand that God perform a miracle for them.
This is what this world is crying for: men and women, boys and girls, who have conviction of heart and who do not change their convictions on the basis of their circumstances. These three men knew what God wanted them to do, and they weren’t afraid of the consequences. There were three men in that great crowd who stood tall when everybody else bowed low. Their faith was in the true and living God and in the word that He had spoken to their people. Knowing the history of the Jewish people, they were confident that the Lord was in control and they had nothing to fear. The prophet Isaiah had written, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isa. 43:1–2). Faith means obeying God regardless of the feelings within us, the circumstances around us, or the consequences before us. The three men could have compromised with the king and defended their disobedience by arguing, but true faith doesn’t look for loopholes; it simply obeys God and knows that He will do what is best. Faith rests on commands and promises, not on arguments and explanations. God always gives strength to bear with pain and grace to face death without fear. The three Hebrew men believed that God could deliver them, but they would trust Him even if He didn’t. That is how faith is supposed to operate in our lives.
.