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But If Not

There are three words from the old testament that recently have taken on very deep significance for me. They are the words ‘but if not.’ May I tell the story of why these words are so important to me?

Anciently, in the province of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, the king, set up a ninety foot golden image and commanded all the people of his kingdom, including the Hebrews, to worship it at the sound of the music. If they did not, they would die in the fiery furnaces that same hour by the king’s decree.

Well, the statue was unveiled in all of its splendor, and at the given signal, the people bowed before the idol – that is, except three faithful Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They refused to bow, and of course were accused before the king. They were brought before him, and the king again offered them a chance to comply and bow before the idol. He threatened them again with the fiery furnace if they did not. There was no hesitation in their reply. They said, “… Nebuchadnezzar … our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

Well, that was not the answer the king wanted to hear. In a rage he commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual, and he had them cast in. So hot was the furnace that it killed the soldiers who threw them in, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego fell into the furnace and were unharmed. They were delivered by the angel of God.

Now, in the example of these three men, there’s a lesson in faith that I can understand. They said to the king in essence the following: ‘We know that God has the power and can deliver us, but whether He will now that we live or die, we don’t know. But it makes no difference. No matter how hot that furnace, we will still trust Him and not yield to wickedness. Burn us if you will!’

That inspires me. God bless those mighty heroes among us now – those who submit sweetly to God’s will, praying and hoping for miracles of deliverance from life’s fiery trials. But if they’re not forthcoming, they are still true! Oh, how He loves you.

Daniel 3