For You God, Anything
August 1, 2012 - 5:00 am“Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” — Daniel 3:26–27
In a dramatic scene in the book of Daniel, Daniel’s friends were put to the test. King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue and commanded everyone to bow down to it. A trouble-maker suggested that there were Jewish men who would refuse to do so.
So, the king called upon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who predictably refused to bow down to the idol. Nebuchadnezzar was furious and threatened the men with their lives. Still, they remained adamant which only increased the king’s fury.
Finally, he commanded that the men be thrown into the furnace, and just for added agony, he decreed that the furnace be made seven times hotter than usual. The flames were so intense that the servants charged with placing the men in the fire were killed doing their job. Yet miraculously, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained completely unscathed. Not one hair singed.
Jewish tradition tells us that the three friends had the courage to face the fiery furnace because they were inspired by the frogs in the second plague that God brought against Egypt. They reasoned if the frog, in obedience to God’s will, could leave their cool, wet habitat and leap into the hot, dry ovens of Egypt, they would be obedient as well.
There is a beautiful story that went around the Internet about a young woman and her first rock climb. Half-way up, Brenda’s contact lens gets knocked out of her eye. She tries hard, but can’t find it. She climbs the rest of the mountain with blurry eyes. When she gets to the top, Brenda sends a heartfelt prayer to God: “Lord, you can see everything. You know every stone and leaf and you know where my lens is. Please help me find it.”
As Brenda makes her way down the mountain she can hardly believe it when she hears someone shouting, “Anyone lose a contact lens?” The man explains that he found the lens because an ant was climbing slowly in front of him carrying the lens on his back.
When Brenda arrives home she tells her cartoonist father her story. He draws an ant carrying a contact lens and adds the following caption: “Lord, I don’t know why you want me to carry this thing. It’s heavy and I can’t eat it. But if this is what You want me to do, then I’ll carry it for You.”
We can learn a thing or two from the ant, the frogs, and Daniel’s friends. Sometimes in life we are given a heavy burden to bear. It’s hard and we can’t always see the point. But we need to be strong and say, “For you God, I’ll carry this burden.” He might just carry yours too.
I know the msg. is for me, Lishkon(dwell) cause for the first time I read the daily devotion and the words spoke to my heart and I cried. I have been during my best to live upright before the Lord, knowing He knows my needs and the situation I’m in; instead of relieve, I am receiving more burdens to bear. I look at people around me gain and I know how they live and yet the Father blesses them cause He says He does. I had decide to stop pushing myself to obey, its a lot easier mentally to live in this world on a fixed income [that the Lord God bless me with] if I didn’t have that I’d have nothing and no one would care. But His word said to me “Lishkon” (dwell). So to whom it concerns, Pray my strength in the Lord.
I understand your situation, as I am going through the same thoughts with my situation and have a very limited fixed income what with being a woman in unusual circumstances. However, I have been so totally blessed and protected over the years as if God knew I would realize my lost situation about 5-6 yrs. ago. I am 65 now. Thank you, LORD. Yes, the problems I had in past, were helped by me, yes, I feel awful about some, but the LORD has forgiven and I am grateful for that.
Some days, I have to say prayers often because I get so frustrated. But I’m reminded of Job and I see, in my mind, God standing right beside me, (as he did for Job) never a doubt that I can do whatever he has for me. Some people need help and God puts us there like the ant. I don’t need a fine house, lots of money, fine clothes, riches, but it’d be nice to be able to be worry-free financially and get away once in awhile. Have you ever noticed that when you need something for your phisical life, God comes through? It’s always a miracle to me.
Heavenly Father, give James strength and peace as he faces the enemy. If we didn’t have “troubles”, we might not know if God was truly refining us for better days! For me, truly, I am so much more blessed than millions around the world, that I am almost ashamed to complain anytime! But I forget, and LORD, help me not to forget that what I do is important to you. I want the Promises of God and I want to thank you for all that you have done and will do in my life. Let us remember, had it not been for Jesus’ suffering, LORD, we would not have those Promises. And thank you, LORD, for Rabbi Eckstein’s messages that I look forward to each day because of the wisdon they bring. I love the lessons taught us from the Saints of the past, and put my Faith in Jesus. Just keep that Faith, James. What a beautiful, glorious day the LORD hath made! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
I love this story so much!
Especially the part about the any carrying her contact lens. Wow. Amazing. I will definitely be sharing that!
Daniel is a story so close to my heart and I love the way you wove it in here.
Do you know there is a new musical about DANIEL that has just been written for Broadway?
The composer, Lenny Solomon, has a campaign on Kickstarter. Please visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/103125106/daniel-in-babylon-a-new-musical?ref=live and help support the production.
Thank you for great teaching.
Please pray for me that, Our G-d who provides would perform a fianancial MIRACLE in my life.