Before Israel went into the Promised Land, God told them Numbers 33:50 “On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.” This command was not to change but they refused to obey. 2 Kings 17:14 “They would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.” For example 2 Chronicles 33:2 “Manasseh did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. 2 Chronicles 33:9 “Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.” 2 Kings 17:7 “All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God.” 18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.” Later Judah was also defeated. 2 Kings 23:26 “Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. 27 So the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.”
Whenever we fail to obey the results will be the same. They disobeyed and in the end those who were not killed were taken captive and taken to another land just as God said they would. They were vomited out of the land. But not every one was evil that were taken away but they were still in captivity. So now we have some faithful followers living in another land as captives. Daniel 1:3 “the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.” These were very special young men not just because of their gifts but because “17 to these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” Jesus said, Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
These men were men of God who refused to bow to another god. These three men stood firm on their beliefs. In this land they knew the consequences for not bowing but they refused to bow to other gods. There will always be someone offended by those who refuse to bow to this world. We will see this later in Esther when we look at Mordecai. In this case it was some “Chaldeans who came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.” These men went after Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Here was an opportunity to get rid of them. Earlier Daniel was given the dream King Nebuchadnezzar had and its meaning. He was then placed in a high position and made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. “49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.” So now these men were in a high position in this new land. Obviously this did not win them any friends. So now we have those who despise these men maybe asking why. Who do they think they are and just like Jesus they took offense at them. We see this with Daniel later as they tried to bring charges against him to get rid of him. We must always remember there will be those who will try to bring you down as you serve wholeheartedly but we must only fear Matthew 10:28 “the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” When the king made the image of gold and required everyone to bow to it, these men refused. They were told Daniel 3:6 “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” This is where those who were against them thought they had them so they went to the king and reported this refusal to bow but the tables would be turned. A second time they refused to bow and the king was furious. But these faithful men responded by saying, Daniel 3:17 “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” At the fury of the king they were bound and thrown into the fire but nothing happened to them. Then another was seen. “25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” “28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” Not only were they promoted, the King issued this decree. “29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
These men knew that no matter what, they would serve the Lord. They lived their lives without any hesitation to serve their God and would not bow to another even at the cost of their lives. Jesus warned us there would be those against us because we follow Him. There will be those who hate and despise you because you have chosen to stand on the word of God. There will be those offended just as they were with Jesus. No matter what we are confronted with, we must never bow to another god. Yes there will be those against you, who will try to bring you down but stand firm and let nothing move you. satan will try to get you to turn away but we must trust in God. Psalm 40:4 “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.” It is amazing how God can use people who refuse to bow to this world.”
Refusing to bow could be just the beginning of God doing some amazing things, all because you stood firm, immovable and refused to bow.
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.” It is amazing how God can use people who refuse to bow to this world.”
Refusing to bow could be just the beginning of God doing some amazing things, all because you stood firm, immovable and refused to bow.
