Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah-my examples



The three men were given one more chance. Here  are 8 excuses they could have used to bow to the statue and save their lives:

1. We will fall down but not  actually worship the idol.

2. We won't become idol worshipers but will worship it this one time, and then ask God for forgiveness.

3. The king has absolute power, and we must obey him. God will understand.

4. The king appointed us-we owe this to him.

5. This is a foreign land, so God will excuse us for following the customs of the land.

6. Our ancestors set up idols in God's Temple! This isn't half as bad!

7. We're not hurting anybody.

8. If we get ourselves killed and some pagans take our high positions, they won't help our people in exile!

Although all these excuses sound sensible at first, they are dangerous rationalisations. To fall down and worship the image would violate God's command in Exodus 20:3, "You must not have any other god before me."
It would erase their testimony for God forever. Never again could they talk about the power of God above all other gods .

What excuses do you use for not standing up for God?

☆An excerpt from the New Living Translation Life Application Study Bible☆


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