It seems like I have heard the question “Why?” asked often lately by various friends. Why is God allowing so many natural disasters to occur? Why am I being afflicted with one health problem after another? Why did my spouse walk away from our marriage? Why did God take my spouse in the prime of their life? Why aren’t my children following the Lord like I want them to? Why are we struggling to make ends meet, when others who aren’t following the Lord seem to prosper?
Why? It’s a question that many of us ask at some time during our lives, and unfortunately, we often don’t receive an answer. At least we don’t receive the answer that we want to hear. If you are like me, then you want things to be much more black and white…an answer for everything…and you want to be able to plan your future without unexpected “hiccups”. Unforeseen detours can sure put a wrench in our plans and that often leads us to ask why.
A friend of mine posted this graphic last week and it really spoke to me. I would imagine that being thrown into a fiery furnace was not in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s plans and could have been classified as a major unexpected “hiccup”. King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown in to the fiery blaze because they refused to bow down to the golden image that he had set up for the people to worship. Even though these three men knew that they would suffer severe consequences for disobeying King Nebuchadnezzar, they knew that God was able to deliver them.
You would think that because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were willing to give their all for their God, that God would just snuff out the flames. Or maybe He would have the King have second thoughts and at the last minute pull them aside, safe and sound. No, God allowed the flames to roar as the men were thrown in. I just love this story. We read in Daniel 3:19-25, “Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them in to the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them in to the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes and othergarments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them in the furnace?” Yes, your majesty, we surely did,” they replied.
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god.”
If there were ever three people who could have asked “Why?” it was Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but that isn’t what we hear them saying. They trusted their God to do what was best for them and do what would bring God the most glory. The result? The rest of the chapter tells us, “Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!’”
Wow. Many lives were changed because these three men trusted their God, even when their circumstances didn’t make sense. I wonder if I would see more miraculous things happen if I spent less time asking “Why?” and more time just trusting God. If He could protect them from the raging heat…He can probably take care of me during my unexpected “hiccups”. I may never have the answer to the “why” questions of my life…but I can rest in the fact that I am not alone because my Jesus walks beside me.
This week, why not join me in asking “Why?” less often and trusting our Jesus to do what is best for us and do what will bring Him the most glory. We just might see some miracles happen before our eyes too!
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