Imagine being a teenager living at the end of the iron age. An enemy nation conquers your people, and takes you captive. They drag you far from home to a strange land where you will face an uncertain fate.
Such was the plight of four, teenaged boys (Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) when Babylon conquered Israel in 605 B.C.
We read in the book of Daniel that these four were part of a larger group of Hebrew captives. This was a group of exceptional young men; boys of noble stock, boys with high intelligence and wisdom. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, wanted this group of talented youths to serve in his palace, and ordered his advisors to teach them the language and literature of Babylon.
A little test of faith.
The king provided these Hebrew boys with the best food and drink the kingdom had to offer. We don’t know exactly why, but something about this food was dishonoring to God. (See: What was wrong with the king’s food? for possible reasons why.)
So this group of young men faced a dilemma: if they refused the kings offerings, there would certainly be consequences, but if they partook, they would be sinning against God.
We don’t know exactly how many Hebrew boys were in this elite group, but the text implies that all but Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah went ahead and ate the food. Maybe they figured that, under the circumstances, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Perhaps some of them were angry at God, and ate the food out of spite. Maybe some of them didn’t want to eat it, but were afraid not to.
But Daniel and his three friends took a stand. They decided to obey God, and they were willing to face whatever ridicule or punishment might come their way.
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”
So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
-Daniel 1 : 11 – 16
Daniel and his friends didn’t make excuses. They didn’t blow off God’s commands because they were inconvenient. They chose to obey, whatever the cost.
Eating the king’s food may not have been a huge deal (the text says nothing disparaging about the young men who did eat it), but it was important to Daniel and his friends to remain faithful, even in the little things. God rewarded them for their obedience.
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.
Daniel 1: 17
A big test of faith.
Some time later, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made a great, golden statue (ninety ft. tall, nine ft. wide), and ordered his subjects to worship it. Anyone who refused would be thrown into a fiery furnace.
Daniel must have been on assignment elsewhere when this happened, for he is not mentioned in this part of the story. But Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were present, and as you can imagine, worshiping an idol was a big no-no for them.
Once again, these men were being tested, only this time the stakes were life and death. Worship the idol, or die. Those were their options.
But they would not bow to a false god! Once again, they took a stand, staying faithful to the one, true God.
(Note: the following text uses the Babylonian names given to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.)
But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews.
They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king!
You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments.
That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace.
But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in,
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?
I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Daniel 3: 8 -18
The king made good on his promise, and threw Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah into a furnace so hot that it killed the guards who tossed them in! But God demonstrated His power, and the three men walked out completely unharmed.
This miracle had a profound impact on the king and the entire nation. Even today, thousands of years later, we are still telling the tale of these men and their unwavering faithfulness. How many millions of people throughout the years has this story encouraged and inspired?
The little things matter.
As I studied the first three chapters of Daniel this week, I really felt the significance of the first part of the story where they refused to eat the king’s food. There’s an important principle here: If you’re not faithful in the little things, you won’t be faithful in the big things.
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah trusted and obeyed God when the stakes were low. This gave them the confidence to do the same thing years later when their lives were on the line.
You and I may never face a situation as dire as Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah did, but we should be prepared to. That means being obedient today in the little things to strengthen our faith for the big things.
