God honors obedience, offers protection
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
Judah’s disobedience as a whole to God’s commands eventually led to it being taken captive to Babylon, as Jeremiah prophesied it would.
But though most of Judah stooped to idolatry and did not follow God, there were a faithful few.
That fact is evident by those who displayed great allegiance to God while in a strange land.
They were far from Jerusalem and the temple worship to which they were accustomed. But they held true to God’s commandments while in a strange land.
Most know some of them by the Babylonian names they were given – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
But their God-given names were Hananiah, Mishael and Azeriah.
Their testimony is found in the Old Testament Book of Daniel.
The three Hebrew boys, along with Daniel, proved their love and commitment to God over and over.
In fact, they didn’t hold their lives dear to them when it came to preserving themselves over failing God.
Those four were among the talented group of young Israeli men who were brought to the Babylonian king’s palace to learn of the Chaldeans’ language and ways.
Their strict adherence to God’s commandments was first evident when Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Daniel and the other three desired to abstain from what God commanded them not to partake of.
They requested to eat just pulse (vegetables) and drink water for 10 days. The request was granted, and after the 10 days, their countenance appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
God honored their faithfulness.
They determined in their hearts to follow God at whatever cost. One example was a king’s decree that nobody could pray to God – only to the king.
The decree did not fluster Daniel. He continued to pray toward Jerusalem to the living God. Those outside his open window could hear his prayers.
Going against the decree meant Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, but again God honored Daniel’s obedience and faithfulness by shutting the lions’ mouths.
Another noteworthy act of obedience occurred when the Babylonian king erected a massive idol (statue) that was to be worshiped by all when music was played.
But Hananiah, Mishael and Azeriah would not bow down before the idol. After all, they were to have no other gods before them – only the true and living God.
The punishment of not falling down and bowing to the idol was being thrown alive into a fiery furnace. The three Hebrew boys were confronted on the matter. They told the king that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but if God chose not to, they would still not bow to the idol.
In other words, the fiery furnace affliction wouldn’t compare to the punishment of turning their backs on God and facing the everlasting lake of fire.
When the rubber met the road, so to speak, they were all in with God. They proved their allegiance and love to God, and no doubt, God was pleased with them.
The king ordered the furnace to be turned up seven times. The men who took the three were burned to death as they cast the Hebrew boys in.
God was there for them again. This time, God did not allow the flames and heat to burn them. In fact, the king saw a fourth man in the fire with them. It was none other than the preincarnate Jesus, who protected them and delivered them from the fiery furnace.
God is the same way today for His people. He will honor and protect us when we choose His ways and follow His Word.
Isaiah 43:2 provides wonderful assurance of His presence in the midst of trouble. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
