| Christian Life and Doctrine | August 1969 |
“If It Be So”
IN 606 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar took the children of Israel captive to Babylon. Among these captives were three young Hebrews who were given the Chaldean names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In addition to these three young Hebrews there was also Daniel, who became one of God’s outstanding prophets. All four of these young Hebrews were given special training by the king’s servants, and when Daniel was able to tell Nebuchadnezzar about his dream in which he saw the great humanlike image, and interpret it for him, the king gave him a high position in the government.
Daniel seized the opportunity to request the king that his three friends be given suitable positions in the government, to which Nebuchadnezzar agreed. Later Nebuchadnezzar erected a great golden image, and directed that all the officials in his government attend the dedication of this image. This, of course, included the three young Hebrews. It was further commanded that upon a certain signal, played on musical instruments, all should bow down and worship this image.
The three young Hebrews properly concluded that this would be equivalent to worshiping a false god; that it would be idolatry, which was forbidden by the law of their God. So when the signal was given they did not bow down before the image. This information was communicated to Nebuchadnezzar, and the three young men were brought before the king. The king decided to give them another chance, and said to them, “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”—Dan. 3:15
The three young Hebrews replied with resolution, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (vss. 17-19) Here we have a remarkable display of faith, a faith that was based on the promises of God.
The Resurrection Hope
The Apostle Paul indicates in Acts 24:14,15 that in the law and by the prophets it was taught that there would be “a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” The three young Hebrews who refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image were undoubtedly of the “just” class, and would know about God’s promises of a “better resurrection” for the faithful of Israel. Their faith meant, then, that if the God of Israel did not see best to deliver them at that time from the fiery furnace, he would surely deliver them from captivity in death in his own due time, hence their willingness to defy the king and rely upon the wisdom and love of God to deal with them as seemed good in his sight.
This was proper reasoning. Centuries later the Apostle Paul wrote, “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”—I Cor. 15:16-19
The Ancient Worthy class did not understand fully the loving arrangements through the redemptive work of Christ whereby the dead would be restored to life, but the evidence is that they did have a hope of the resurrection, and it was this that made much of the difference in the manner in which they served God. Those who did not exercise faith in God’s promises readily drifted away into idolatry and into other sins. Such would have had no scruples against bowing down to the great image which Nebuchadnezzar set up.
We Are Also Tested
The example of the three Hebrews is a meaningful one to us who have covenanted to do the Heavenly Father’s will. We have many assurances in the Word that our God is able to care for us in every time of need. With these assurances we should be able to meet every test of faith and obedience which his wisdom may permit to come upon us. A crisis in our lives as Christians may be a temptation from the Adversary, but God permits it as a test of our fidelity to him.
And these tests come to us in many ways. Often small things are involved, and we find ourselves confronted with a decision as to whether we will follow the course of righteousness set forth in the Word of God, or whether we will take the easier way, the way, perhaps, of less sacrifice, which would be more pleasing to the flesh. We know that if we choose the Lord’s way he is able to overrule to his own glory, and to our deliverance from trial, if it be his will to do so.
But our decisions as followers of the Master must be based, not on the expectation that if we choose the hard way the Lord will lift the burden, but on what we believe the Lord wants us to do, regardless of what the outcome may be so far as our own immediate circumstances are concerned. True, we should always keep in mind, as the three Hebrews did, that our God is able to deliver us, and that he will deliver us in his due time, even if that due time is not until our resurrection.
“But if Not”
Another meaningful statement in the reply of the three Hebrews to Nebuchadnezzar is contained in the three words, “But if not.” They were not sure whether it was God’s will to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but even so, they did not intend to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image, for, they continued, “Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”—vs. 18
We too are given two viewpoints when confronted by tests of faith and obedience. The one is, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us.” The other, “But if not” we will not serve other gods—neither the world, the flesh, nor the Devil. The three Hebrews knew that God would deliver them out of the hand of the king, but just how or when, they did not know. So with us, we are assured of ultimate deliverance into the kingdom, but just what the Lord’s providence may be in the meantime we do not know; it is a matter of faith.
Three Hebrews Delivered
As it resulted for the three Hebrews, God permitted them to be cast into the burning fiery furnace, although they were so fully protected that the flames did not hurt them. When the king investigated he discovered that instead of there being three in the fiery furnace there were four, the fourth being “like the son of God.” In other words, while the Lord permitted these faithful servants to pass through this “fiery trial,” his presence was with them and they were not injured. The fire had no power upon their bodies, “nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed.” They did not even have the smell of fire on them.
The Apostle Paul wrote that it was through faith that these Hebrews “quenched the violence of fire.” (Heb. 11:34) Upon the basis of faith we too can pass through our trials unscathed. God is dealing with us as new creatures in Christ Jesus. We know that our ultimate deliverance will be into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We know that this deliverance will mean the death of the flesh and all its interests. So regardless of what happens to our flesh, we know that the Lord is looking out for our interests as new creatures.
We have Jesus for an example. God permitted his enemies to put him to death, but Jesus, as a new creature, came through his “fiery furnace” uninjured, with not so much as the smell of “smoke” upon him: And so it will be with us. Our faith can “quench the violence of fire” also, even a “fire” which may destroy our flesh, but the violence of our trials will not harm us as new creatures, and we will know that through them all our Heavenly Father’s presence is with us, by his Holy Spirit, and by all the other means of grace which he, in his love and mercy, is pleased to use.
God’s Providences Vary
The Lord’s providences in the lives of his people vary. This is brought to our attention by the apostle in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, where he presents us with a sizable list of faithful ones of the past, and states briefly some of their works of faith. Of Abraham he said, “When he was tried, [he] offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”—Heb. 11:17-19
Notice how Abraham’s faith in God’s ability to raise the dead entered into his obedience in presenting Isaac for sacrifice. Abraham believed that in the event he sacrificed Isaac he would be restored to him. His faith was sufficient to give him assurance that he would sustain no permanent loss in obeying God’s request to offer Isaac in sacrifice.
And what a test that must have been! Abraham was no different in his feeling for his son than any other devoted father would be. And Isaac was a very special son. Abraham had waited many years for his birth, and when he was born it was the result of a miracle. He might well have wondered why God would perform a miracle to give him this son and then ask him to slay the boy for a burnt offering.
But Abraham’s faith rose above any misgivings he may have had. He prepared the altar, and laid Isaac upon it. He even raised his knife to slay his beloved son; and then the Lord intervened, and provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac. Does our faith lead in paths of obedience to this full extent? We frequently do not understand why God indicates certain paths for us, but are we willing to enter those paths? Do we build our “altars,” and place the “wood” upon them? Do we go so far as to raise the “knife” in obedience to the Lord’s will?
The enabling power of faith should lead us thus along the pathway of obedience, even though no “ram” be provided to remove the stress of the trial from our own hearts. After all, we have made a covenant of sacrifice with the Lord, and it should be no cause for wonder, or for hesitation, when the Lord gives us the opportunity to live up to the terms of our covenant. On the other hand, the Lord has his own due times and ways, and we believe that every devoted child of his can testify that “rams” have often been provided; and this is specially true where the Lord knows that a particular trial may be too severe for us.
While we have covenanted to die following in the footsteps of Jesus, in most cases this turns out to be a gradual laying down of our lives, which calls for an extended period of faithfulness—often well-nigh a lifetime. It is in the individual experiences of our daily laying down and giving up that our faith enables us to accept the Lord’s providences. And we rejoice in his wisdom, love, and mercy when temporarily he eases the burden or cools the flames by which we are being prepared, through sacrifice, ultimately to hear that “well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord.”
Daniel’s Example
In Paul’s summary of those ancient heroes of faith he speaks of those who “stopped the mouths of lions.” Daniel was one of these. It was in the days of Darius, who was king of the Medo-Persian Empire. Daniel had the confidence of this king, but other officials in the realm were jealous of him, and sought a way to have him destroyed. They succeeded in having Darius issue a decree that for thirty days no one was to ask a petition “of any god or man.” Those who disobeyed this decree were to be punished by being thrown to the lions.
The king signed the decree, not suspecting that it was in reality a conspiracy against his beloved Daniel. But once signed it could not be changed, for such was the law of the Medes and Persians. Daniel, of course, continued his prayer habits as usual, and he was apprehended and brought before the king. The king was helpless, and could do nothing but order that Daniel be cast into a den of lions, which was done.
Darius was unable to sleep that night, and early in the morning went to the lions’ den and called to Daniel, hoping that he would find him still alive. Daniel was still alive, and replied, “O king, live forever. My God bath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me.”—Dan. 6:21,22
Here we have an illuminating experience. The Lord permitted Daniel to be cast into the den of lions, but through his angel gave him protection. Even so, it must have been a harrowing experience. Just to be thrown among lions would be most unnerving. We are not informed as to whether Daniel had any assurance from the Lord that he would be guarded by an angel; so even though he actually was protected, it must have been a severe test of his faith.
So it is with us. The Lord may permit us to be surrounded by circumstances which threaten to engulf and crush us. Perhaps he intends to send his “angel” to deliver us, but we cannot be sure. As we often sing, he “moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform,” and in order that our faith might be tested to the full, he seldom explains in advance just which direction his mysterious ways are leading. So, by faith, we wait on him.
The “lions’ dens” into which we are thrown may not be literal, as in the case of Daniel. We may not be locked up in a prison dungeon with our feet made fast in the stocks, as were Paul and Silas, but the Lord knows just the circumstances which will serve best to test our faith. It is at these times that we look up to him in our faith and say, If it be thy will Lord, we know that you are able to deliver us; but if not, give us strength and courage to endure until we have proved worthy for that great deliverance in the “first resurrection.” Help us to lean on your might, that we might be faithful even unto death, and thus receive the promised crown of life.
The ministry of the holy angels is a very real thing in the life of every servant of God. An angel closed the mouths of the lions which threatened Daniel. In the case of Paul and Silas a great earthquake shook the prison walls and broke their chains asunder. But in both instances the tests were severe before these miraculous deliverances took place. Our tests may also be severe, and many times the Lord will provide ways of escape. But the time shall ultimately come when there will be no way to go but through—through the floods and storms and fires of trial into the kingdom itself.
Other Experiences
Not all the Ancient Worthies were delivered from their trials in miraculous ways as were the three Hebrews, and Daniel, and others who “escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, [and] turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (Heb. 11:34) There were “others,” Paul informs us, who “had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not [the fulfilment of] the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”—Heb. 11:36-40
Here was faith being demonstrated in a different way. There was no miracle to keep the smell of fire from the sheepskins and goatskins which many of these wore. They were stoned, but no angel was there to divert the stones in other directions. They were slain with the sword, with no one to stay the hands of the wielders of the swords. They were destitute, afflicted, and tormented; not clothed in regal garments of government, protected and honored. They “wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
Nevertheless their faith rose above all these horrendous experiences. It was a faith by which they were convinced that despite the fact that the God of Israel may have seemed to have deserted them, they knew that he had not. By this living faith amidst suffering and death-dealing experiences, this group of Ancient Worthies “received a good report”; that is, they proved worthy of the great reward which awaits them, the reward of being brought forth in the “better resurrection,” of being made perfect as humans after the completion of the “us class of the present Gospel Age.
Jesus Endured
Paul refers to the Ancient Worthies as “so great a cloud of witnesses.” The faithful ones of the New Testament also serve the Lord’s people today as “a cloud of witnesses.” When we need encouragement, it is a blessing to go with Paul on one of his missionary journeys, or to fellowship with him through his epistles. To contemplate Peter’s experience in the prison when, being delivered by an angel, “the iron … gate opened to them of [its] own accord,” is an inspiration to faith and faithfulness.
And Paul reminds us of the greatest example of all when he wrote, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”—Heb. 12:2-4
Surely to look unto Jesus should help us over any trial! Jesus knew that it was the Father’s will for him to lay down his life. But the joy that was set before him by the promises of God enabled him to endure all his trials, including the final one on the cross. It will be even so with us; and many times we will need to draw on this source of strength.
But, as Paul reminds us, we “have not yet resisted unto blood.” That is to say, we have not yet been faithful even unto death as Jesus was. We know that our Heavenly Father will support us by his Spirit. He will strengthen us in all our trials, many times providing partial deliverance from their severity. But finally there must come that resisting “unto blood,” and it will be then that we will need to lean on the Lord more than we have ever done before; and we can do so with the assurance that he will not fail us.
When Jesus came out of the Garden of Gethsemane he said to Peter, “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11) He did drink that cup, completely and victoriously. We also have a “cup” to “drink.” May our dedication to the Heavenly Father be so complete that we will not hesitate to drink it to its final dregs, resisting even “unto blood.” Let us do this with the clear understanding that divine power could spare us this final test, but that divine wisdom and love know that this would not be best. Let us realize more and more day by day that if we are to share with Jesus in the throne of his glory we must be faithful now even unto death. May our faith be so strong that we will rejoice in the fact that there is no other way to kingdom glory.