THE STORY OF THE THREE JEWS

 

THE STORY OF THE THREE JEWS

DANIEL 3:17-18

 

In the book of Daniel, we have the story of three Jewish men, Shadrach, Meshack and Abed Nego, who in times of the Babylonian captivity of Judea, they refused to worship the golden idol that king Nebuchadnezzar had made, and who ordered the whole empire to worship this idol under the penalty of death

(Daniel 3:4-5).

 

Knowing of the death penalty by fire, these three valiant servants of GOD, refused before and after being arrested by the Babylonian king, to bow down to the idol, and gave a memorable answer which is a lesson to posterity:

 

17‘If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

DANIEL 3:17-18

LESSON

 Shadrach, Meshack and Abed Nego, knew that YHVH GOD, whom they acknowledged as the only true living GOD, does not approve to surrender to idols or demons, and answered in full conviction of their decision.

 They not only acknowledged that YHVH could save them from this trial, through hundreds of possible ways, but also, they gave King Nebuchadnezzar, an answer that confirmed their strong knowledge of what was right and what was wrong. They said:

“But if not”

Daniel 3:18

With this saying, they acknowledged the right of GOD to save them or not, because GOD did not promise them any particular assistance, and they knew that GOD was the owners of their lives, and had not obligation to assists them in doing what they knew it was the right thing to do, but nevertheless, they remained resolute in their refusal to commit idolatry, even before their execution by burning alive.

Finally YHVH GOD, sent an angel to deliver these faithful Jews from the fire, and this HE did in front of Nebuchadnezzar himself, proving thus, that YHVH is the GOD not only of Jews, but also Babylon and the whole earth.

In this way ourselves, we should live by the principles of Justice that GOD has implanted in our conscience, and do the right things out of conviction and not out of ‘fear’, duty or because GOD may sustain us through the process.

GOD is not our servant or slave. HE has no obligation to answer any prayer, and He does only out of pure mercy towards us.

But regardless, we always should live our lives doing what we know is right and just, because that is the right way to proceed, and in the long term, the only things that will benefit us in our eternal journey to perfection.

But, thanks to GOD, we have a merciful FATHER, who always has pity on our limited humanity, and always decides, by his own will, to assist anyone who comes to HIM for help, specially, if it is to do what HE wants from us, anytime.

OFR