Some Inspired Name-Dropping

Kenny Chumbley
10/21/12 - Faith

Thirteen times in nineteen verses three Hebrews, best known to us by their Chaldean names, are mentioned. Offhand, I can't recall any other place in Scripture where we have such a remarkable repetition involving proper names. At the very least, I think the inspired writer wants us to remember the names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

And why should we? Surely, the reason is indicated in Hebrews 11 where we read of those who quenched the violence of fire by faith (11:34). We ought to remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because the faith they possessed was the genuine commodity.

Theirs wasn't a conditional bargain that offered to exchange trust in God for deliverance from a superheated furnace (which, by the way, is mentioned or alluded to fifteen times in Daniel 3). They didn't know if deliverance would come—"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 will not serve your gods" (3:17–18)—but they knew what they would do.

And in this, they give us an unforgettable glimpse into true belief. Conditional faith isn't faith at all. "I believe in God because He answered my prayer"; but what if He had not answered your prayer? "I believe in God because He gave me a job"; but what if He had not given you a job? What if you lost your job, would you still believe? Satan claimed Job's faith was conditional ("he only believes in you because of how you've blessed him — take away all his things and he'll curse you"). So in a single day Job lost all his things but instead of cursing he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." "The problem," countered the Accuser, "is that the furnace isn't hot enough. Take away his health and he'll curse you to your face." So Job lost his health, not to a lingering cold, but to some hideous sickness. But instead of cursing, Job's response was, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him."

Real faith isn't a quid pro quo, something for something. It's a conviction that says even if deliverance doesn't come, I'll still stand up for Jesus!

Is there reason for us believing in the God revealed in the Bible? And is there reason for continuing to believe even when it seems God has turned against us "without cause" (Job 1:3)? If the answer is yes (and it is!), THEN LET US BELIEVE, even if it kills us! False faith believes because it's beneficial; real faith believes because it's right.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—these names forever testify to the fact that true faith isn't believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequences.

I'll close with how my friend Jim McGuiggan concluded his comments on Daniel 3 — "The promotion of the believers follows [their deliverance from the furnace]. But it's not what happened on earth that was of real consequence; it was how they were viewed in heaven. If heaven smiles, then all is really well." At the end of Daniel 3, heaven was smiling.

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