He is THE Most High God

My idea to consolidate my studying/teaching has worked out great!  Our pastor is teaching through Daniel, so I am teaching Daniel at the settlement.  I never cease to be amazed at how practical the Bible is. 

Last week I taught about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.  At first I was a little nervous about trying to explain a history lesson and prophecy.  But on this continent it seems very easy to talk about the rise and fall of kingdoms and countries.  The impossibility of one man knowing another man’s dream brought wonder to the faces of the women.  God makes the impossible possible.

Today we read about the fiery furnace.  In preparing, I was reminded that the three men were real actual men – not just storybook characters.  These men were willing to die for their faith.  I began to wonder what would be easier:  a. to die for your Creator, Savior and Lord.  b. to live with the knowledge that you denied your Creator, Savior and Lord. 

As I looked over the chapter again, I saw that when the 3 men were thrown into the furnace they had quite a large audience.  All the important people of the kingdom were there.  These were the people the king had brought in to see his statue and to worship it.  Can you imagine the thrill of walking out of that furnace knowing that your courage to be a “consistent monotheist” had brought such honor and glory to your Creator, Savior and Lord? 

I was reading the Foxnews homepage this morning and saw an article about some modern day Hananiah, Mishael and Azariahs (“The Lord shows grace”, “Who is what God is?” and “The Lord helps”).  In Ethiopia Christians are being given the opportunity to stand up for Jesus – “A Christian was sentenced to three years in prison in November for allegedly writing ‘Jesus is the Lord’ in a copy of the Koran, Compass Direct News reported. Christians from the area told the website he had actually written the phrase on a piece of cloth.  Sources also told Compass, authorities had offered to release the man, Tamirat W., if he would convert to Islam, but he refused.  Additionally, two of his friends were fined for visiting him in prison and taking him food, Compass Direct reported.”  Pray for these three Christians as they bring honor and glory to the Most High God. 

Sometimes I wonder if we forget that the God who stood with Daniel, Hananniah, Mishael, Azariah and Tamirat is the same God who desires to stand with us as we stand for Him! 

“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped . . .” Isaiah 35:3+