“If you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15)
King Nebuchadnezzar has made an enormous image of gold and has ordered all his officials to come to its dedication. He has also invited a lot of musicians. And when the music starts to play everybody should “fall down and worship”. To make clear that this is a serious matter, the king adds a threat. If somebody does not worship, he will immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Of course, nobody dares to disobey the king’s command!
But then some people tell the king: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego […] pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up”. The king is furious, and threatens these men once more. That they will be cast into the fiery furnace, if they do not worship the golden image. Their answer is remarkable: “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. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we serve not your gods, or worship the golden image that you set up.
They don’t give in to the pressure, because they are committed to serve God instead of an idol. They trust that God can rescue them, but are also prepare to die for their faith, if that was God’s will for them.
These men don’t compromise their faith. Do you?