Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

THE THREE HEBREW CHILDREN'S FAITH

This entry was posted on 04-07-2009 and is filed under FAITH.

"...Who through faith...quenched the fury of the flames..." (Heb. 11:33,34 NIV).

Though not mentioned by name in Hebrews 11, I have a feeling that the three Hebrew children (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) are the heroes of faith that the writer is referencing in today's Scripture. The story is told in Daniel 3:1-30. They were prisoners of war in Babylon. Along with Daniel, they had entered the king's service. God blessed them with great knowledge and understanding. The pagan king then made the three young POWs administrators over the province of Babylon. Because they were Jews, some anti-semitic astrologers ratted on them to the king, telling him that they refused to bow down to to the 90-foot high statue of Nebuchadnezzar. The king called them on the carpet, but the three young Jews told him, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it...but even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (vs. 17,18).

You talk about faith in the face of fire! They were tossed into the fiery furnace and survived by the direct intervention of God. Observers saw a fourth man in the fire. Some translations call him "the son of God." Was this a preincarnate appearance of Christ? Some think so. Whoever he was, he delivered the three Hebrew children because of their tremendous trust in God. So, what's keeping you from trusting God today?

Hymn: "Many mighty men are lost, daring not to stand. Who for God had been a host, by joining Daniel's band. Dare to be a Daniel! Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose true! Dare to make it known!" (Philip P. Bliss)