They Didn’t Know

As we read our Bibles we read of great men & women like Daniel, David, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Esther, Ruth and many more. What do we remember these great people for? Daniel; the man thrown into a den of lions, spent the night and walked out the next morning. A wonderful story! There was also David, the teenager who killed the giant that had the Israelite army terrified. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; the three men who were thrown into a fiery furnace and were not burned but were seen walking around. Those are not just stories those are actual events that took place. As I read about these men and women it is easy to overlook something very important. As I read about Daniel on his way to the den of lions he had no idea what was to happen to him. As David was headed down to meet a man everyone else was terrified of he too had no idea that he hadn't seen his last sun rise. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didn't have any idea they would walk out of the fiery furnace. It's easy for me to read about these men and say "go on Daniel God will deliver you." I like Paul Harvey know the rest of the story, but Daniel didn't. As the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz told the Tin man, lion and scarecrow they had something the others didn't have. So it was with these men. They had put their trust in God! I love what Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego told King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Daniel 3:14
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

Daniel 3:15
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 musick, ye fall down and worship the image which 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?

Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Daniel 3:17 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.

Daniel 3:18 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.

They didn't know what was going to happen to them. Neither do you and I. We can trust in ourselves and our abilities or we can do like these people did. Still hanging pictures on the Greyhound?