Reflecting the Image

Scripture:

Daniel 3:19–23

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary 20 and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire. (NRSVUE)

Observation:

Nebuchadnezzar had built a golden image and commanded everyone to bow down and worship it. He had become accustomed to having his commands obeyed, and when he discovered that there were those who refused to worship the image, he was enraged.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had been loyal servants within the Babylonian kingdom. These were good men, but Nebuchadnezzar’s sense of his own power and importance had become so inflated that he could no longer think clearly. What strikes me is that he was so filled with rage that “his face was distorted.” That is some kind of rage, and as a result, he makes a really bad decision.

The king has his loyal servants thrown into a fiery furnace. He doesn’t even seem to think this through. He is angry and has them bound and thrown into the fire. The description of their clothing makes me wonder whether they were taken just as they were, without even being given time to change. The command is so urgent that the furnace is overheated, and the flames kill the men who are carrying out his orders. But not the three. They fall, bound, into the furnace, and we know the rest of the story. Rage does not win the day. The king is confronted with the power of God when they come out of the fire unscathed.

Application:

A few days ago, we considered how bad it is to make an emotional decision. That one resulted in John the Baptist being beheaded. Now we find another leader making an emotional decision, only this time he is filled with rage.

I was fascinated by the fact that Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage that his face was distorted. Folks, that’s over-the-top anger. And then you look at why he was so angry, and it seems ridiculous.

This was self-centered rage. He was angry that these men would not bow down to the image he had commanded them to worship.

His rage was a response to what he perceived as a threat to his authority. He had become so accustomed to being obeyed that he could not tolerate those who refused. The root of his rage was an elevated image of himself.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to live in humility before our holy God. We are invited into participation with the Triune God and to live within the stream of the Holy Spirit. In contrast to this passage, today’s reading from Numbers tells us about Moses: “Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).

Look at the contrast. Moses destroyed the golden calf so that the people would worship God only. Nebuchadnezzar built a golden image and demanded that the people worship it. Moses is humble because he realizes his place before God. Nebuchadnezzar is arrogant and filled with rage when people refuse to obey him.

There are situations and circumstances that will make us angry. Sometimes we will be justified in that anger, but there are other times when we may need to slow down and examine the source of our anger. Do we feel threatened? Why? Do we feel like there has been an injustice? Why? Then we need to take a deep breath before making decisions that may impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

God confronts Nebuchadnezzar at the very point of his problem. A fourth figure appears in the fiery furnace, and suddenly the king realizes that there is a power greater than his own. He cannot command this power, and he cannot destroy those whom God has chosen to preserve. His rage gives way to astonishment, and he acknowledges the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

When we act out of a fit of rage, there will often be consequences, sometimes for people who had nothing to do with the source of our anger. Nebuchadnezzar’s own soldiers lost their lives because of his impulsive command.

May we learn to recognize the source of our anger before it becomes destructive. Humility before God can help us respond with wisdom rather than rage.

Prayer:

Lord, this over-the-top response got my attention today. The anger of the king was so selfish. Oh Lord, may I not be selfish, and may I never lash out at others out of my own pain and frustration. May I be like Moses and seek Your face. Amen.