Refusing to bow…

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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. ¹⁸ But 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 316-18, ESV). 

This is a very well known Bible account, which many people have heard over and over in Sunday School lessons.  When King Nebuchadnezzar ordered them into the fiery furnace Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out unharmed, not a hair singed or even the smell of fire upon them.  Interestingly enough King Nebuchadnezzar was asking them to break the first two commandments, there shall have no other gods before me and you shall not make carved images and bow down and serve them.  When he approached them as to why they paid no attention to his command they didn’t even engage conversation on his level they just stood their ground.  They knew full well God was able to deliver them and if not let it be known they will not serve the king’s gods or worship his idols.  And look what happened, Jesus showed up and the king called them servants of the Most High God!

Living in a world where everyone has their own gods and serves their own idols we too are regularly faced with underlining “peer pressure” to submit to the gods or idols of others.  Unfortunately, Satan the god of this world is very crafty.  It’s not always as obvious for us as it was for our three friends in Daniel. It comes about so much more subtly.  More like the serpent in the Garden of Eden luring the world after it’s own lusts.  In all fairness most people (ourselves included) are blinded to their own idols and worldly gods they serve.  Blinded or not they are still there.

And so today I wonder if it’s time for some of us to stand firm and refuse to bow down to the gods and idols of others.  Realize just as King Nebuchadnezzar became angry when they refused its most likely going to spark a rise in others as well.  But you never know it may be the very time Jesus will show up.  And others will see you are a servant of the Most High God!

O Lord may we first confess any of our own gods and/or idols that we have put before you.  And I pray you give us wisdom to get out of the way of others.  May we know you are able to deliver through any and all circumstances, you are the Most High God!