God Winks

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

Recently, I was listening to people give praise to God for events that had occurred in their lives. There were a few stories surrounding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and how people were spared being involved. A man missed going into work that morning because his son started kindergarten. Another person was charged with bringing donuts to work and was running late. An alarm clock didn't go off on time. Another person missed their bus. A lady spilled food on her clothes and had to change. A car that didn't start. Someone else had to go back to answer the telephone. A man who was wearing new shoes and developed a blister on his foot, stopped to buy a bandage. Then there were other stories. A son who survived cancer. Another child who fell 40 feet from a tree and survived. A woman narrowly escaping death after being hit by a taxi cab. All these stories and similar ones were said to be "God Winks;" God protecting you and keeping you from being harmed or killed during a time when you are caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. These are great anecdotal stories which for those involved remind them of what they believe was God's protection in their lives. That may be the case and praise God for it. Yet we all know that over 3,000 people died during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. We also know that people die from cancer, being hit by cars, from falls and many sorts of other things every day that have their own strange stories attached to them. Did God not "wink" at them? In Hebrews 11, there is a list of people given who one may say experienced a "God Wink." They were those "who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again (Hebrews 11:33-35a)." But, the author of Hebrews goes one step further. "There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—  the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground (Hebrews 11:35b-38)." Did God forget to "wink" at them so they would have avoided all this suffering? No, they were commended for their faith along with those who did not suffer. That brings me to my point.

In Daniel 3, we have Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to serve the gods of Nebuchadnezzar or worship the image of gold that he set up. Nebuchadnezzar gave them one last chance to worship his golden image or be thrown into the fiery furnace. The three didn't deny the charges against them and even went so far as to not defend themselves. Why? Because they knew their God was able to deliver them from the furnace. However, they say one thing that I believe often goes unnoticed in much of Christianity today. They say, "But even if he does not deliver us." They knew God could deliver them, but that He had not promised He would nor was He obligated to do so. We often here it taught that because of our faith in Jesus Christ we are somehow promised not to suffer at all, much less be thrown into a fiery furnace. Sometimes there is a condition tied to it such as having "faith to move Mountains". But, as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew all too well, it isn't about having faith to move mountains, but knowing that the object of their faith was the God who created the Mountains! When it comes to the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, God illustrates His brilliance. Did He prevent them from being thrown in the fire? No, they were thrown into the furnace. But, what happened next? "Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods (Daniel 3:24-25).” The fire did not harm them and, even better, God was visibly seen with them in the fire! That is the promise of God; that He goes through the fire with us. Sometimes we survive unscathed, but even if we do not He is still with us. So, while we can glorify God when He protects us from harm, He is still with us when we do experience harm. Perhaps, as was the case with Nebuchadnezzar, our suffering or avoidance of it can be used by God so others will glorify Him. After Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "for no other god can save in this way (Daniel 3:29)." No truer words have ever been spoken. Who knows? Maybe Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went through all of that so Nebuchadnezzar could experience a "God Wink."