2024_02_12 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- Daniel 1:7, Daniel 2:49, Daniel 3
Some character traits have been fairly consistent in our reading this year. We have read about people who were brave, courageous, and faithful. We see those characteristics again this week in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But the faith of these three young men is next level, in my opinion, because of these five words: “But even if he doesn’t.”
King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue made and required the people of his kingdom to bow down to worship it every time they heard the musical instruments play. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused and were brought before him. The king gave them an opportunity to change their minds and bow down, but let’s take a look at their reply:
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18, NLT).
Some words used to define faith are allegiance, belief, and trust (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The young men believed God could deliver them, but they also believed that He was still worthy of their trust and total allegiance even if He didn’t. “Even if” can be a hard place to be.
In the New Living Translation, faith is used 507 times – 203 in the Old Testament and 304 in the New Testament. If you add the number of times faithful or faithfully are used, those numbers increase. Faith is a big deal to God. So big that it is impossible (not just hard, but impossible) to please Him without it. Look Hebrews 11:6 (NLT):
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Living in the “even if He doesn’t” is not easy and does not come from a casual faith. It is developed over time and experience, seeing God at work in our lives and the lives of those around us. His thoughts and ways will always be higher than ours, and we only see a small piece of the story. He promises us that our faith will not disappoint if we keep persevering, keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep showing up… because He dearly loves us.
4 “And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Romans 5:4-5, NLT
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach
Reference: Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Faith. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faith