A Biblical response to persecution

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3 is one of the most famous events in the Bible. Nebuchadnezzar constructed a giant statue. The image was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. A herald proclaimed, “You are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:5-6).

Bowing before the image was a loyalty test. It was a test of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar as king, to his empire and, most importantly, to the Babylonian gods he served. Every person bowed before the statue except for three young men- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. This passage answers very important questions. How should a Christian respond to persecution? How does God protect His people in the midst of persecution?

These young men (in their early twenties) responded to Nebuchadnezzar’s threats in four ways. First, they were completely unafraid. They said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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 will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

A Babylonian blast furnace was incredibly efficient. It resembled an old fashioned glass milk bottle. A ramp or platform allowed access to the top. An opening at the bottom allowed fuel and air to be added to the fire. A fiery furnace like this sometimes reached temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. These young people were completely unintimidated. Over and over the Bible commands us not to be afraid. They were not harsh or disrespectful but they stood alone.

Second, they rested in God’s power. They said, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us.” No earthly king compares to God’s power. Our God created the heavens and the earth by speaking. He is powerful!

Third, they were committed to God. They did not worship the Babylonian gods. Their faith was unshakeable.

Fourth, they left the results in God’s hands. “He is able to deliver us out of your hand, O king. 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.” If God did not deliver them, they were willing to die. They accepted whatever God brought into their lives.

We live in a day of increasing persecution for God’s people. A British newspaper ran a recent story about Jaelene Hinkle, a Christian soccer player. Jaelene Hinkle was left off the American women’s national soccer team. She refused to wear a jersey with rainbow colored numbers during Gay Pride Month. She was accused of being “intolerant and homophobic” due to her religious beliefs. We must stand strong.

God always protects His people even in the midst of persecution. Sometimes God protects His children supernaturally. Nebuchadnezzar ordered the young men’s hands tied. His soldiers threw them into the fiery furnace in their highly flammable clothing. God protected them in the fire.

Verse 24 says, “In astonishment the king asked, ‘Did we not cast three men bound into the fire.’” Nebuchadnezzar continued, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods” (verse 25). Sometimes God intervenes and protects supernaturally.

Sometimes God protects through His people. In Acts 9:23-25 evil people tried to kill the apostle Paul. The plot became known. Other Christians lowered him over the wall of Damascus in a basket. Paul became a basket case! God protects us by using other people.

Sometimes God protects through providence. In Acts 23:16 another plot to kill Paul was discovered by his nephew. His nephew warned the Romans who provided soldiers to protect Paul.

God always protects eternally. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Every person is going to die. Death for a Christian is not to be feared. We simply pass from this life to the next life. Jesus died for His people. Through His death, burial and resurrection every Christian has peace with God.

God always protects spiritually. Why was there a fourth person in the fiery furnace? The fourth person, I believe, was what theologians call a theophany. A theophany is a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus. Jesus said, “And behold, I am with you always even to the end of the age.”

Our family has chickens, turkeys and even a duck. Our seven year old daughter gathers the eggs every afternoon. For some reason she is afraid of one particular turkey. I tell her, “You don’t have to be afraid. The Lord Jesus is with you.” She carries a big stick but most importantly she has the presence of God with her!

The Bible must serve as the foundation of our lives. God protected four young men in ancient Babylon. The Lord Jesus will protect us today.

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.