18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.
Should their God not deliver them, they would still refuse to bow before the image. They did not presume on God’s will for their case – “if not.” They recognized the sovereignty of God in their situation. God has a purpose for what He does. They did not have a quid pro quo relationship with God.
The trio was not in the business of trying to coerce God’s sovereignty. They did not try to make a trade with God. They accepted God’s sovereign prerogative to do with them as He pleases.
PRINCIPLE:
Mature believers have a good grasp of God’s sovereignty.
APPLICATION:
God expects us to respect His sovereignty as to whether he will deliver us or not deliver us from a given situation. They did not seek to coerce or bribe God to deliver them. They did not attempt to dictate to God what He should do.
Ex 14:13-14, “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 ‘The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’”
1 Sa 17:47, “Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
Ps 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.”
Ps 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
If God can, why doesn’t He? The Bible declares that God limits His power by a number of things. He is unable to contradict Himself. His character limits what He does. Unbelief limits Him (Mt 13:58). God also limits Himself by His purposes. As the trio submitted themselves to God’s will, whatever the cost, so should we. “Not my will, but yours be done.” We leave certain things in God’s hands. This is an act of faith.
