Contemplative Bible Reading

Daniel 3:15-17 (New Living Translation)

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.

This is part of the (hi)story of Daniel’s three colleagues who were assigned the foreign names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The ruler, Nebuchadnezzar, asks an age-old and often-repeated question, “What god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

In other words, “Do you know who I AM? I am the ruler. Who or what is more powerful than ME?”

The three react as they should. “Why ask such a silly question? Jehovah, the God who created all is all powerful.”

Everyone knew that! At least it should have been obvious to all, especially a world conqueror and highly educated person like Nebuchadnezzar. The three give the obvious and often-quoted answer. We know the rest of the story. In this situation, Jehovah chooses to demonstrate God’s power once again for yet another audience of those who need to see the obvious: God is God and we are not.

Each day, most of us are confronted with the same old obvious question. What god can do such-and-such? There is no need to answer, but sometimes we answer anyway. Please God, help me to answer kindly and in faith. If You choose to demonstrate Your ability like in this (hi)story, so be it.