Real Men Don’t . . .
Read Daniel 1:1–3:30
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14. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, . . .
15. “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?”
16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
17. 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.
18. 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 3:14-18
Sometimes having a job means having to make some big ethical choices. For instance, your employer may ask you to do something that is wrong and then tell you that it’s not optional. You have to decide whether you’re going to go through with it.
This situation is similar to the one in which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego find themselves. They each have an important job in the Babylonian government, and they, too, have a big decision to make. But the consequence they face for upsetting their boss is serious—a decision to do what is right here means death. As you read, determine whether their actions are foolish or courageous.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had been ordered to bow down and worship a statue, but they refused. To worship the image would violate God’s command in Exodus 20:3, “You must not have any other god but me.” When threatened with execution, they still refused. Then they were given one more chance (Daniel 3:15). At that point they could have used any number of excuses for bowing to the image to save their lives (“It’s just one time”; “We had no choice”; “It’s just a Babylonian custom”; “It isn’t so bad”; “We’re not hurting anybody”; “We can always say we did it against our will”). But instead of making excuses, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego simply obeyed God. The outcome of their courageous decision lay with God, so that is where they left it.
Don’t make excuses for wrong choices. Like these young men, have the courage to do what’s right. Know that God is pleased with your obedience, and trust him to work out the best for the situation.
