sermon 9/14/25

If God can, then why…

Questions Worth Asking: Honest Faith in a Curious World

Daniel 3:16–18 NIV

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “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.”

Mark 14:36 NIV

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

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Last week we kicked off our series of “Questions from the Congregation” with a relatively easy to answer one. This week not so much…

The quesion

If God can then why…

didn’t I get healed

did God allow that to happen

Theodicy or “the problem of evil” as it is called is something that has troubled humanity for centuries upon centuries, and something that we still haven’t answered today and in truth are no closer then when we started.

And sadly you aren’t going to get a clean, concrete, ultimately satisfying answer today either.

Much like the lack of empirical, tangable evidence that we have for the origin of the creation of God that we talked about last week we have to rely on faith for our answer.

Daniel 3:16–18 NIV

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “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.”

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Isaiah–Malachi 3. What the Three Hebrews Did—Defiant Decision (3:13–18)

Verse 17 is an expression of faith in spite of evidences; verse 18 is the same faith expressed in scorn of consequences. Our God … is able was the belief of the three Hebrews; they had tested His power previously and were convinced of the faithfulness of God. Yet, they realized that God did not always will to deliver—But if not.… There are times as in Job’s suffering and Jesus’ cross when God does not save us from the fiery furnace but permits us to experience its flame and anguish while He sustains us through the ordeal (cf.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Isaiah–Malachi 3. What the Three Hebrews Did—Defiant Decision (3:13–18)

Verse 17 is an expression of faith in spite of evidences

the three boys have been taken to foreign land as slaves. Their homes are being destroyed and yet there response is still faith that God will save. They have confidence that God will save despite their current circumsatnaces.

—> Daniel 3:18

Daniel 3:18 NIV

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.”

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Isaiah–Malachi 3. What the Three Hebrews Did—Defiant Decision (3:13–18)

verse 18 is the same faith expressed in scorn of consequences. Our God … is able was the belief of the three Hebrews; they had tested His power previously and were convinced of the faithfulness of God. Yet, they realized that God did not always will to deliver—But if not.… There are times as in Job’s suffering and Jesus’ cross when God does not save us from the fiery furnace but permits us to experience its flame and anguish while He sustains us through the ordeal

Psalm 23:4 NIV

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Isaiah–Malachi 3. What the Three Hebrews Did—Defiant Decision (3:13–18)

The sustaining grace of God in the trial is often a greater deliverance than saving one from it. They were ready for the furnace and they made this fact explicit to the king. We will not serve thy gods. Regardless of consequences, they were determined to be loyal and faithful to the God whom they loved and served. Such faith wins in the long run.

These three Hebrews had a superior kind of religious faith to that of most men. It was a religion of a powerful life (we have no need to answer thee), a religion of perfect trust (our God is able), a religion of pure principle (But if not … we will not serve thy gods). This kind of religious faith is what men need for the trying experiences of life.

—> Mark 14:36

Mark 14:36 NIV

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.