It happened a long time ago, in country we know as Iraq.  Three young Jewish men, who had been brought as captives from their homes in Jerusalem, were faced with a test of their faith.  The ruler of the land set up a statue and issued an order that everybody had to bow down to it.  If anyone failed to do so, death would be swift and sure.  Since that was a barbaric land, the death would be horrible:  the offender would be thrown into a furnace of fire.

    Our young heroes were worshipers of the one true God.  They could not and would not bow down to anything or anyone except that God.  So they refused, making a statement of great courage and shining faith.  In essence they said, “Our God is able to keep us from harm, and we believe He will do so, but if He doesn’t, we still trust God.”

    They said, “Our God is able to deliver us.”  This is the beginning place for faith.  They had a personal faith in a God who had the power to deliver them.  There was no thought in their minds that God might not be able to help them in their hour of need.  They knew all about the burning fiery furnace, but they were convinced that there was no fire large enough or hot enough to keep God from being able to help them.  Have you ever thought things were so bad that not even God could help you?  Learn from these three who were convinced that their God could not fail.

    They said, “He will deliver us.”  Not only did they believe He was able, but they also believed He was going to rescue them from the desperate situation they were in.  Their faith that God would grew out of their faith that God could.  The more we know about God, the more we tend to trust Him.  That’s why it is important to read the Bible with a believing heart.  If we consistently accept what the Bible says God did in the past, we will find our faith strengthened to trust Him to do something today.

    They said, “But if not...”  And that is the crux of the matter.  Although they knew God could help them, and believed God would help them, they were aware that they might not know God’s will in the matter.  So they surrendered to God’s will, saying, “But if not...we will not serve thy gods.”

    God can deliver anybody.  God does deliver many.  But God doesn’t deliver everyone.   He saved these three from the fiery furnace by performing a mighty miracle.  But He didn’t deliver Paul from the thorn in his flesh.  Apparently God’s plan for Paul was better served with the thorn still there.  He didn’t deliver Jesus from the cross, even though Jesus asked if there was some other way.  He couldn’t take the cross away and still fulfill His plan for Jesus and for us.

    Knowing that God can , strengthens our faith.  Believing that God will, gives us hope.  But accepting that God might not , gives us peace.