Accepting God's Will

Daniel 3:24

 

24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."

 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were Jewish men who the king had appointed over his affairs in the province of Babylon. It was during the seventy years of captivity the Israelites endured. They were friends of the prophet Daniel.  The king made a gold image which he expected everyone to bow down to. However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego would not. Their disobedience to the king was reported. The king believed that he was the supreme power of the land. Because of his belief, he threatened to throw the three men he once appointed into his fiery furnace and that no one would deliver them from his hand. The response of Shadrach and his friends was that God would deliver them from king Nebuchadnezzar. The more surprising statement was, "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

 

The willingness to accept God's will, even if it meant death would seem to be nonsense by the world's standards. In times of a crossroad, let's not lie, most would do whatever they had to do to save their life, their possessions, etc. But when doing so goes against God's will for you, then what? If you and I say that Jesus is Lord and He is the head of our life and God is Abba, our Father, then it means that God's will overrides anything you and I desire. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego did not wish to die as they believed God would deliver them. But even if He didn't, they would rather accept God's will for them rather than do what everyone else was doing and worship a false god. God delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego for sure and Jesus was in the furnace with them, still protecting them. Jesus, the Son of God, showed up in the furnace with them to show the king who the true King was and still is. God showed up to show Nebuchadnezzar that he had no power but that ALL power belongs to God. Who is the Nebuchadnezzar in your life? What trial are you facing? Will you accept God's will no matter what?