Only What Binds Us: Finding Redemption in the Things that Hinder
What is the purpose for our pain?
We often wonder this when going through trial or difficulty. Sometimes it’s hard to determine when we’re in the midst of a hard season.
But, when we can look into the stories of other individuals who’ve suffered and endured, it becomes easier to understand the function of affliction- oftentimes it is for our own correction, sanctification, and growth. If we pay closer attention though, it is also often an opportunity for others to experience a necessary change of heart.
A good example of this is found in the book of Daniel, within the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego- most of us are familiar with these names; we heard the story countless times in Sunday School, saw the Veggie Tales, remember the names only because they roll off the tongue in an oddly satisfying way.
Let’s review their story so that you can follow my coming point better.
King Nebuchadnezzar had created a new, very large and intense idol, and he wanted all of his people to bow down and worship the idol when the music sounded. If anyone refused to obey this order, they would be thrown into “a blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:6).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were discovered to have disobeyed this order, refusing to worship this specific idol, and so were reported to the king.
Now, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not only Jewish captives, exiled in the land of Babylon during this time, but they were each in a leadership position (Daniel 2:49, 3:12) appointed by Nebuchadnezzar himself to take care of various government business. Likely well-known among officials, Nebuchadnezzar had dealings with them before.
Let’s just say Nebuchadnezzar was enraged his top guys were making him look bad.
So he summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and asked them if this report of their refusal to worship his idol was true. The men confirmed that, yes, they were refusing to worship this new idol:
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up”
~Daniel 3: 17-18
Oh SNAP.
Booyah.
This set the king off even more, and the furnace was then heated seven times hotter than normal. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were “firmly tied” while still clothed, and thrown into the furnace.
Now, the next part of the story is the climax, and for good reason.
“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.’ 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: 24-27
Not one part of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego was touched by fire except the the ties that bound them.
They were in the fire, yet “unbound and unharmed”; they came out of the fire untouched.
God burned only the things that bound them.
He destroyed the things that limited them. He removed from them what hindered them, not allowing the fire to touch any other part of them.
God was there in the fire, His presence with them walking in the midst of their trouble.
God only wants to get rid of the things in our lives that delay, prevent, minimize, and harm our relationship with Him; He works to prove Himself faithful and powerful in/through us, even in the fire. He will never take away things that we need, and He loves to give us good gifts.
When we decide to surrender our lives to Him, in order to grow, flourish, and thrive, He must get rid of what binds us to the things of this world, what prevents closeness with Him.
Anything He asks us to let go of or leave behind is to better allow Him to do more and give more; nothing He calls us to get rid of is worth the disobedience of holding on instead.
When God gives us a task, an instruction, a rule (that we will hopefully choose to obey), it is only for our benefit, for our good and for His Glory.
The things our enemies may use to hamper us are often what God uses, and overcomes, in freeing us, to bring Him Glory.
But recall Genesis 50:20:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”
God can use any and every circumstance to bring about His will and to be glorified. He can untie us from any tangle we’ve found ourselves in, and bring us out of situations that were intended to harm us.
God wants to free our hands, and our hearts, to receive from Him. But we may have to walk through fire first.
When we hold onto the things of this world, and all of its sin, we are sacrificing the blessings of God and intimacy with God.
These blessings are the things God wants to place into our open, surrendered hands. But first, He needs to burn our ropes; He needs to get rid of the muck that can only come through the refining process in the fire.
He wants to destroy the things that are keeping us bound, so that we can lift our open hands to receive goodness and mercy and healing from Him.
But, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego acknowledged, though He is able, God doesn’t always work through our preferred outcome, and He doesn’t always work in a way that will benefit us or answer our prayers how we think is best (see again Daniel 3:17-18 above). I’m sure these guys were grateful they weren’t dead, but I’m also sure they would’ve loved to avoid the furnace all together.
I think that in this story, and often in our own lives, more than the personal victories and breakthroughs we have in Jesus after walking through trial, the value of God’s working and intervention come to invite others, nonbelievers, to know Him. So that after seeing His hand move they would no longer be able to deny His presence and power and status as the One True God.
Like Nebuchadnezzar said after witnessing this miracle:
“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God…no other god can save in this way.”
~Daniel 3:28-29
So, yes, God loves to bless us and free us from captivity. May we never think, though, that He does this because of how good we are (Deuteronomy 8:17-18, 9:4-7). No way, Jose.
God wants to be recognized and glorified through our trial more than He wants us to look good.
Let’s remember, if the outcome of our suffering is that people came to know Jesus through our deliverance, that is worth all the pain in the world, and we will still praise Him.
What is the purpose of our pain?
It’s through stories like these that allow us to look into the lives of other individuals who’ve suffered and endured, and make it easier to understand the function of affliction: sometimes sorrow or hardship is meant to redeem and restore the one experiencing it; then sometimes it is meant to transform the hearts of those witnessing our journey and reinforce God’s evident power and sovereignty.
What is something that God has given you freedom from? What is something He took from you, that was hindering your relationship with Him? Has there been a trial He allowed in your life that has led previously unbelieving loved ones to Him? I’d love to hear about it!
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The God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was not Jesus. I am confused as to why you brought Jesus’s name into it. When they prayed, it was to Adonai, the God of the Hebrews or Jewish people.
Beth, you are correct that in this specific story, these men were not worshipping Jesus, as in the Messiah we know from the New Testament. When I mention the idea of freedom and victory we have “in Jesus” I was trying to draw a parallel between our victory of/through salvation in Jesus with that victory of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego coming out of the furnace. It is the same God working in both of those senses, so in my mind I was connecting the dots, so to speak. When I use the name Jesus, I use it in the sense that Jesus is one and the same as/with God the Father, who was God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because of the Trinity. I hope that helps clarify that for you! I can see where that may have been confusing- thank you for bringing it to my attention:)
Thank you Katie. I am learning about Christianity through your blog. You may have figured out that I am Jewish. Though I don’t accept Jesus as the Messiah or as God, I do appreciate his teachings and wisdom. I hope you had a joyous Easrer amidst this chaotic point in history.
Loooove “When we decide to surrender our lives to Him, in order to grow, flourish, and thrive, He must get rid of what binds us to the things of this world, what prevents closeness with Him.” Amen sister!