“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

(…continues from part 4…)

5)            The LORD God of the Bible proved the facticity of ‘a very present help’ of this verse when Nebuchadnezzar came, in all fury, to make a terrifying example of the three helpless looking Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. With the LORD God on their side, they did see Nebuchadnezzar succeeding in his evil intent. Believe in the Word of Jesus and you will benefit from superabundance of existing aid of the Most High Jehovah.

The three teenage Jews were rather afraid of losing face with the LORD, their God. When you walk the faith walk with the LORD, it translates to spiritual maturity, awakening a true sense knowledge of the Most High Jehovah. Yoruba proverb says, “Ojú t’ó r’ókun, t’ó r’ósà, kò lè bèrù omí kéékèké” literally meaning “The eye that has beheld the ocean and big lagoon will not be afraid of small streams.” The knowledge of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of the Eternal God of Israel was so profound that they were very contented with whatever He decided to do with their stand as they remained standing before the dreaded king Nebuchadnezzar. They told Nebuchadnezzar – not with contempt – to his face, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17) If it be so, 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. 18) 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).

Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

It is not possible to follow Jesus Christ in Spirit and truth and with all one’s heart and be afraid of any other being. Daniel 11:32 truthfully asseverates, “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” The word ‘exploits’ is not in the Hebraic couch, hence, an insertion of Bible translators; but the word ‘do’ is the Hebrew ‛âśâh (aw-saw’): ‘To do, fashion, accomplish, make; create out of existing materials.’ Our walk with the Word of God turns us into creators of opportunities. We become true achievers of wondrous deeds.

Cast your lots with the LORD God, with Whom alone one can put all eggs in one basket and none will be lost. An explicit unalloyed faith in the LORD God is most profitable as the Bible reveals in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” We can become true ambassadors of the Kingdom of God wherever we find ourselves when they see the rewards of our explicit faith in the LORD God. One profound lesson found in Daniel Chapter Three is that when king Nebuchadnezzar measured his religious stand with that of three small Hebrew boys, and saw clearly that they were serving the Most High Jehovah, the king jettisoned his over bloated ego. He refused to toe the incorrigible steps of Cain. Nebuchadnezzar received Jesus as Lord and Saviour.  28) “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29) Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon” (Daniel 3:28-30).

I see four men loose, in the midst of the fire

The faith of very young Jews humbled king Nebuchadnezzar, who had no choice but to promote them. They were elevated above their detractors. They became epistles to be read. Their exploits attracted others to follow the true Saviour, Jesus Christ. Nebuchadnezzar chose to tread upon the route of religious persecution. He did not know that it was a terrible choice to dragoon the sworn children of Israel into his idolatrous dream. The LORD our God is a responsible Father; He is the Man of war. He will never allow his children to be consumed. God did not put the idolatrous sculpture of the sixty-cubit high idol of gold into the head of the king of Babylon. It was his choice. The choice met with a resistance based on the faith in the LORD God. And that set the stage for Jehovah’s intervention. Walk the path of His righteousness and you will never be ashamed. Amen.

Get Jesus initiated by getting born again: pray this prayer, believing it with all your heart. Say,

“Dear heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I receive Him now as my Lord and my Saviour. I give God all the glory. Amen!” 

 (Concluded)

Read Part 4 here

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