I love, love, love Veggie Tales. I grew up watching them and think the writers and producers are just absolute geniuses. Seriously- talking vegetables. Why didn't I think of that? One of my favorites is about "Shack, Rack, and Benny" aka the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It's so cute. They work in this chocolate factory and the mean/nasty owner wants them to bow down to this huge chocolate bunny. When they won't do it he throws them into the furnace. SPOILER: they don't die.
The story of the three men who were thrown into the flames really makes me unnerved. I envy them, yet I am ashamed of myself because of them. They were able to visually comprehend how powerful God was when He saved them from a fate that was physically impossible to avoid. That would be awesome. However, their faith was so strong to begin with, that when you think about it, they probably already had a firm foundation of their belief in God's absolute power. I know God still uses those of us with "faith as small as a mustard seed" but the end results will not be as much of a blessing.
The part of the story I usually focus most on is how God saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from death and how King Nebuchadnezzar was dumbfounded that God was with his people in the fiery furnace. Through a speaker I heard recently, I was forced to look at the story from a different angle. In Daniel 3:16, the three men tell the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not intend to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 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."
"But even if he does not....."
What immoveable faith they had. I feel like they were almost sarcastic with the king. "Alright, alright King. There is really no need for you to be so flustered. We aren't going to sit here and argue about whatever punishment you decide to give us. You obviously don't understand just how powerful the God is we serve. You see- he can save us from any fate you give us. But even if he decides not to save us, we just want you to know we still won't worship your gods." If there were hashtags in the Old Testament there would be one at the end that said #sorrynotsorry
Of course, their matter-of-factness and calm disposition about being burned alive made the king even more riled. I'm going to get side tracked for a second. A few verses down it says he "heated the furnace seven times hotter than usual." I don't really understand why this would make a difference. Fire burns no matter how hot it is, right? Soo pretty much he was just quickening their death by making it hotter, instead of making them suffer longer. If anyone knows the logic behind this....let me know. Anyways.....
I just love that they said, "even if he does not." That's the kind of faith I want. It is difficult to have faith that is mature enough to want God to rescue you, but if he decides not to, nothing changes. If God makes a huge scene and performs a miracle in your life, he is just as powerful as if he were to remain silent. My rookie faith still doesn't always accept that easily.
It is hard for me to say, "I really want (insert hopes/dreams/desires) to happen in my life. But even if those aren't what you have planned for me, I will still obey you." God's ultimate plan is to make me like Him. At twenty-one years old I think I have my life all figured out, and can't understand why he won't let me have certain things when I want them. There is no intelligent reason (that I understand at this point in time) behind why God closes certain doors. All I know is that eventually this road that he's taking me down will make me more like Him. The hidden message in the psalm that says, "he will give us the desires of our hearts" is really that if we truly follow Him, God's desires are our desires as well.
