Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – three friends of faith

Xanthe Galanis

"There are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Daniel 3:12

Peer pressure. Conformity. We often think of these as things teenagers have to face, but how often have you gone along with everyone else so you don't upset the apple cart? All the Babylonian king wanted from these three friends was that they kneel and worship a golden statue. Couldn’t they at least go through the motions? Surely, all their fellow Jews would know they didn’t really mean it.

The exiled Jews living in Babylonia had three choices. They could give up their faith entirely, embracing the Babylonian religion. They could compromise, not turning their backs on God entirely, but making whatever changes were needed to get along with their new “masters.” Or . . . they could stay defiant. They could choose the path of most resistance and remain committed to the LORD. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose the latter. In their bonds of friendship and faith, they found the strength to withstand the pressure to conform. Whenever Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are mentioned, all three are mentioned together. There is not a single instance in which any one of these friends do or say anything apart from the other two.

All of us want to be accepted, to fit in. In and of itself, this is not a bad thing. The question is with whom do we want to fit in? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made their choice. They were part of God’s community and there they would stay, even if it meant being tossed into a furnace to be braaied alive.

Prayer: Thank you for my friends in faith, those who help me to resist the temptation to give myself over entirely to the ways of the world. Help me to help others stay faithful to you Lord. Amen