By Joneil Alcock
Function And Purpose
God tends to work in ways that men most times cannot understand, but there is always meaning behind it. God tends to show His power to manifest His authority on the earth and in men’s affairs, in two distinct ways – function and purpose. It usually functions to promote His agenda and the purpose of showing men that there is one God and there is no other.
No more vividly is this truth displayed than in two stories in the book of Daniel. The first is seen in Daniel Chapter 3 and relates to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The second is seen in Daniel Chapter 6 and relates to Daniel and the lion’s den. Both are fairly popular stories but have we ever thought about the meanings behind why God did what he did?
Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image
In Daniel 3, we learn that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had set up a golden image and commanded everyone to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego disobey the command and end up infuriating the King who asked, “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15) This was a direct and proud defiance of the ruler of all ages which in this instance was answered miraculously.
Three Israelite young men are thrown into the fire but escape without harm. King Nebuchadnezzar is so astonished that he made a decree;
“that every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.” (Daniel 3:29)
Daniel And The Lion’s Den
In Daniel 6, during the time of the next great empire – the Medians and Persians – displeasure rose up among the princes about the faithful Daniel. King Darius was tricked into making a decree for thirty days that any man that made a petition of any God or man except him should be thrown into a den of lions.
Of course, Daniel who was diligent to pray three times daily was caught and thrown into the den of lions. Again, miraculously God shows up, sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, Daniel remained a night unharmed, the King took him out and commanded that the accusers, their children and their wives be cast into the den of lions where they all died.
King Darius then made another decree;
“Peace be multiplied unto you, I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel for He is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:25-27)
The Trap
A pattern emerges of defiance against God and His servants, a proposed punishment, a miracle to release from the trap and then a decree that stated no one should again defy Jehovah-God. God’s agenda has always been to establish His kingdom on earth and build a relationship that became broken with men from the time of Adam. He in these two striking examples declared repeatedly that He is the one and only God and that He is our shield in times of danger.
He in both cases defied and released a supposed trap. In both cases, God is looked on as either not there or a delusion until He promoted Himself mightily. These snares become God’s own way out and plan to show up and expose Himself. God is the ONLY ruler and Him ONLY should we serve.
“Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.” Psalm 69:22
“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” Psalm 91:3
“The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.” Psalm 119:110
“For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net; and as the birds hat are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.” Ecclesiastes 9:12
