We received another picture of our youngest child jumping into ‘devil’s pool’ atop Victoria Falls in Zambia. I am confident Karlyn did this only because she knew there was a natural rock at the end of the ledge that acted as a barrier preventing her from tumbling over the waterfall.
When she was three years old, Karlyn used to perch on the fifth step of the stairs in our house waiting for me to walk around the corner. Then she would dive out like a flying squirrel knowing that her Dad would catch her. (Perhaps if I had stepped aside one time she would not now be jumping into dangerous waters??)
Little Karlyn only made daring leaps from our staircase because she knew and trusted her father. Some say trusting God is like a ‘blind leap of faith,’ but I think we can keep our eyes open. When God says, “You can trust Me,” we must know there is a reality far stronger than any rock or earthly father.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego probably underwent all types of emotions as they approached the fiery furnace, but their statement to the king expressed what they knew about God and their willingness to die for the One they loved. They did not know exactly what would happen, but the three young men experienced the blessing of fellowship in the fire. “The righteous will live by faith.”
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O 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 save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’” Daniel 3:16-18
“So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw 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. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.’” Daniel 3:26-28