Faith is hope in our darkest moments

Case 1

The New King James Version Chapter 3

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?

15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

They were commanded to worship the 90ft gold statue. They disobeyed

Because they only worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Because they accepted the consequence of not worshipping the Golden Image (Ch3 v17)

Because they trusted the God of Abraham to rescue them from the fire

Because even if God chose not to rescue them, they would still not worship the golden image

Such faith comes out when you have nowhere to go, nothing to do, no one to turn to but God. The easier route is painless and easier, but it does not have faith. Its better to

Case 2

The New King James Version Chapter 12

12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up,

The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;

And there shall be a time of trouble,

Such as never was since there was a nation,

Even to that time.

And at that time your people shall be delivered,

Every one who is found written in the book.

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,

Some to everlasting life,

Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 Those who are wise shall shine

Like the brightness of the firmament,

And those who turn many to righteousness

Like the stars forever and ever.

4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank.

6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.

Daniel received a vision, an outline of future events from Chapter 10 - 13

The visions are fascinating, and describe the political and spiritual direction the world will take from that time

In Daniel 12:8, Daniel expressed that he did not understand, so he asked a question of when these things will happen.

The Angel told Daniel not to worry, these thing will happen at “The time of the end”.

Then the Angel encouraged Daniel “for you shall rest, and arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” V13

Having faith in God sometimes is about believing things you will never see, but hoping that even after you are long dead, you will arise, and see the Glory of the God you worshiped faithfully.

God is faithful - you don’t always need proof or justification - just trust, and rest.