7: And if Not

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, . . . we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image.

DANIEL 3:17-18

AS THE WWII ALLIED TROOPS were trapped on the beach at Dunkirk, they sent a wireless message to the War Room in London. It consisted of three words, which were in code: “And if not.” The amazing part of this story is that Winston Churchill and his generals understood the message.[1]

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar constructs an image and orders all subjects to bow down and worship. Three young men —Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego —take a stand and refuse to worship any image or person except their God. The king orders them to be thrown into a fiery furnace. These three declare that they’ll never bow to another and, in that moment, exclaim that God is able to save them from this ordeal. But they also say that even if God doesn’t save them, they will never serve the idol.

This was the message of the Allied troops. “Even if we are not rescued from Hitler’s army, we will stand strong.”[2]

What powerful words!

Denise and I recently interviewed a couple who emigrated from South Africa. The wife has a powerful story. Her parents were brutally murdered in 2006 during the racial and political unrest in South Africa. The couple both shared how God has met them in the darkness, and yet the scars will always be there. God’s presence has been a light for them over the years. After sharing, she asked us to finish with the song “Even If” from MercyMe. You can find a recording of the song to listen to online.

I know some of you are facing huge challenges with regard to health, finances, relationships, and more. I reach out to you through the words of this brief devotion and quote Hebrews 12:3 from the J.B. Phillips New Testament translation: “Think constantly of him enduring all that sinful men could say against him and you will not lose your purpose or your courage.”

Questions

  1. Think back on how God has met you at specific times in your life. At the time, you may not have seen God at work, yet there may be no explanation for what you encountered. What have those experiences taught you about God? How have those experiences affected your faith?
  2. Write down one line from the song “Even If” that speaks to you. Why is this line meaningful to you right now?
  3. You may be facing huge issues in your life. How can the phrase, “And if not . . .” give you both courage and encouragement?
  4. Reread Hebrews 12:3 from the J.B. Phillips translation. How can Jesus’ example give you strength in your daily life?