The 11th Hour

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Daniel 3: 24-27

Recently, I have been reflecting on the Bible story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found in the Book of Daniel, chapter 3. For a quick overview, these 3 men did not bow down to the image of the king because they honoured the Lord, and believed that he is the true God. Because they were found standing, rather than in a bowing position, they were ordered by the king to be thrown into the fiery furnace for their disobedience. Despite this realization, the 3 men were so confident in their faith and God that they stated: “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18). Every time I read this story, I think that this level of faith is admirable and really sets a strong standard of faith and trust.

One day at supper with my family, I mentioned that I have been thinking about God and how He shows himself so strongly in what some may call at the 11th hour. I wonder if you have had that experience? When you are in the midst of a hard time, struggling beyond your imagination, and when you are about to break, God shows up strong for you in ways that are unimaginable. I know I have, indeed, have that experience.

Here, in the scripture of emphasis (Daniel 3:24-25), we learn that God showed up in a BIG way, rescuing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire. What is remarkable is that we read that the rescue took place right when they were in the fire. Some might say, right at the 11th hour! We also read about similar situations where God shows up in the middle of the darkest and scariest adversities such as the story of Daniel in the Lions den (Daniel 6) and Lazarus raised from the dead (John 11) – Perhaps, these stories are less like the 11th hour, and more like when you feel you’re out of time. Regardless of the right phrase to use, I cannot help but think about how God meets us in our storms and darkest places, and that when we trust in Him we can escape unscathed from whatever we are going through. Now, I think it is important to acknowledge what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said about “if he does not” they will still hold firm in their faith (in summary).

Through these scriptures, it is clear that God can do the impossible, and meets us right where we are, even if it’s the 11th hour, it is not late for God. So, never give up on God. If situations work out the way you’ve hoped or when they do not, His timing is perfect. Talking from experience, I have had situations work out just as I’ve hoped or better, and situations where they did not, and I am glad that either way it goes, remaining in faith has allowed me to still have joy in the Lord and His timing.

If you’re in a hard season, I encourage you to look up! (Advice I received from a complete stranger who saw the sadness in my eyes, and wanted to remind me that there is a God above).

God Bless,
Gwendolyn