Leave the Consequences to God

Introduction

Consequences. This is a word that we don’t normally like to hear or even think about. In fact, I have heard mothers and fathers use this word to deter their children from misbehaving — not in a sentence like, “You better not do that or there will be consequences,” but simply by saying the word firmly and deliberately, “Consequences.” I have witnessed that to be enough to calm a child down during a tantrum or to make a child disengage from disobedient behaviors.

The word consequences is a powerful word. It carries a lot of weight. But what, exactly, does it mean?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines Consequence as the result or effect of an action or condition.

So, though the word consequence is often used to refer to negative results or effects, in its most simple form, it is neither positive nor negative.

Consequences can be both negative results or positive results.

This morning, as we honor our graduates, I want to share with them and with you a sermon titled

Leave the Consequences to God

About six weeks ago, I preached a sermon titled A Story Told Through Names. In that sermon we saw the significance of names given to people in the Bible, especially of those in the Old Testament. Most of the names we find in the Bible have important meanings. Names were often tied to hopes, future aspirations, an individual’s faith. Even now, names form a major part of our identity.

Some people like their name. Has anyone here ever heard that their parents were going to possibly name them a different name?

I wanted to name Ella Amanda. And the reason behind it is one you probably would not guess, but as soon as I tell you it, you’ll probably understand. As many of you know, I like instruments. Not only do I like instruments, but I enjoy the fact that as a family, we own many instruments. When will the collection be complete? Probably never...

But anyway, at the time that Tahsha was pregnant with Ella, I was desperately wanting to acquire a particular instrument called a mandolin. I really enjoy bluegrass music and have since I was about 14 years old. The quintessential instrument of a bluegrass ensemble is probably the banjo, and for a long time, I had wanted to purchase a banjo. I had almost given up on the dream, but not long after Ian was born, I was given a broken banjo by my father-in-law, and I proceeded to fix it and make it playable. A few years later, after I had driven Tahsha crazy with my many hours of practice, I bought a better banjo, and my obsession with bluegrass increased.

A few years later, I looked for a violin so that I could teach myself how to play that. I found one at a pawn shop for $50 and bought it. I quickly realized that bowing a violin and strumming a guitar or picking a banjo is very different. It was very difficult for me, and I returned the violin. i thought to myself, “Well, maybe I can’t play the fiddle, but bluegrass ensembles have more than just a guitars, banjos, and fiddles, they often have mandolins.

So, I began to look around for mandolins. Well, I was never able to purchase one, and as time went by and the number of kids increased, the dream of owning a mandolin was put on the back burner.

Fast forward to Tahsha being pregnant with Ella. We were tossing around name ideas and suddenly, it hit me. I had an amazing name for our baby girl that was soon to be born — Amanda. But I had a middle name already lined up too — Lynn. And I thought that this would be the most awesome thing to name her because, though I may never own a mandolin, I would always have a baby girl named Amanda Lynn, and that would be good enough for me!

Well, I presented the idea to Tahsha, and as soon as I gave the reasoning behind it, she shot it down! So, we named her Ella and I eventually got a mandolin...

I tell that story to Ella sometimes, and she is so happy that we didn’t name her Amanda. And the simple reason behind that is that her identity is tied to her name. Normally, when parents tell us, “Oh yeah, we almost named you _______,” most people turn up their noses and say, “I’m glad I didn’t get that name!”

On the other hand, there are some people who do not like their names and wish that they had other names. Some prefer to go by their middle name, like my mom. She is not too fond of her first name, so she goes by Michelle, her middle name. And some people go by entirely different names than their legal names (Dusty)...

All that to say this: Names! They carry a significance. They carry a sense of identity. The first thing we answer when someone asks, “Who are you?” is our name.

This morning we will look at four men who had important names — names that carried important meanings; names that were ultimately replaced by others in an attempt to influence their identity.

Four Names

The people we are talking about are none other than Daniel and his three friends. Daniel we know by his original name, but his friends we know by their alternate or replaced names — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The names that these young men have are significant.

Daniel - God is my judge

Belteshazzar - Bel protect his life

Hananiah - Jehovah is gracious

Shadrach - Command of Aku (Aku was the moon god that the Chaldeans worshipped. The name means that he is commanded by Aku.)

Mishael - Who is like God?

Meshach - Who is like Aku? (Notice the direct attack on the meaning of the name)

Azariah - Jehovah is my helper

Abed-nego - Servant of Nego

Join me in reading a bit of their story this morning.

Daniel 1:1–7 KJV 1900

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

These young men were sought out on purpose. They were good looking, they were intelligent, they had common sense, and they knew royal manners (able to stand in the king’s palace). But they were brought to Babylon so that the Chaldeans

Daniel 1:4–5 KJV 1900

4b ... might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

The word nourish there not only means to nourish physically, but mentally as well. They were to be educated, trained, brainwashed, filled with their pagan philosophies and habits and culture, not just with their foods — so that at the end of 3 years, they would stand before the king to be appraised. Step one of this process was to strip them of their old identity as children of Judah, God’s people, and to give them a new identity. This was first accomplished by changing their names that reflected their allegiance to God into names that would encourage allegiance to pagan false gods.

Then, they were educated in the culture of the Chaldeans and in their philosophies. While that was happening, they were fed from the king’s very own kitchen.

In this new home of theirs, all of these young men that were brought from Judah to Babylon would face some very difficult decisions.

Should We Eat?

The first decision that they come to is this decision to eat the food that comes from the king’s kitchen. What could possibly be the problem? What could possibly be wrong with eating choice cuts of steak, the freshest vegetables and fruits, the best wine and drinks?

The problem was this — the Chaldeans did not follow the diet of the Jews. Jews had been commanded by God to abstain from certain meats because they were unclean. If a Jewish person were to eat these things, such as pork or shrimp or lobster, and a great deal of other animals, they would become ceremonially unclean. These dietary restrictions, among other things, distinguished them from the pagan nations surrounding them.

And now, they will be fed, not only the best steaks, but the best pork chops, the best sushi, the best lobster with garlic butter sauce, and as they were fed these things, a bit more of their identities would be erased. Their dietary restrictions would become a thing of the past and as that happened, they would be adopting more and more of the Chaldean culture with every meal. They would forget that they were a peculiar people, a different kind of people, a called people, a chosen people. They would soon become one of the masses of pagan nations that were being gathered under the umbrella of the Babylonian Empire.

Later, Daniel is faced with another decision:

Should I Take the Credit?

and with it, the glory?

After the three years is up, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are promoted to being part of the King Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men. These were men that advised the king and predicted things. It seems that as Nebuchadnezzar went conquering lands, he accumulated many wise men of different nations, and it would follow that these men would consult their gods or try to make predictions based of their pagan practices.

Because Daniel and his friends were seen to be both intelligent and wise, Nebuchadnezzar included them in this group of advisors.

There came a night when the king had a dream. After waking, he could not remember the dream, but it bothered him, and he could not go back to sleep. So Nebuchadnezzar called all his wise men and told them to interpret this dream that he could not even remember. Had he been able to remember it, the wise men would have had an easier time interpreting it, however, Nebuchadnezzar first needed them to tell him the dream that so troubled him.

Daniel 2:10–11 KJV 1900

10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

So the king sent out a decree that all the wise men should be killed. The captain of the king’s guard set out to begin killing the wise men, and when he arrived to Daniel, Daniel asked what the issue was. The captain told him, and Daniel asked the king for a certain amount of time to interpret the dream, to which the king agreed.

Daniel and his three friends began to pray, and that night, God revealed both the dream and the interpretation.

Daniel 2:24–27 KJV 1900

24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

And here is where Daniel is faced with the decision — do I take the credit, and with it the glory? Do I claim the benefits? Should I accept the accolades of being the only one who could accomplish this impossible task?

It would be so easy for Daniel to say, “To the wise me, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers this task is impossible. But not to me, oh king, because I am so much greater than they are.”

Not long after this, another decision must be made.

Should We Bow?

and thus preserve our lives?

Nebuchadnezzar commissioned the building of a giant golden statue of himself.

The height of this statue was 60 cubits — that’s 90ft, roughly the height of a nine-story building.

When the statue was due to be unveiled and dedicated, Nebuchadnezzar sent for all the governors and magistrates and justices, treasurers, prefects, and officials of the different provinces all over the empire. They would all be there in representation of their people, and Nebuchadnezzar made a decree once they were all gathered at the site.

Daniel 3:4–7 KJV 1900

4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

In this crowd were Daniel’s three friends, who had been made governors over Babylon after Daniel interpreted the king’s dream. Daniel is not present during this dedication, likely because he is one of the wise men of the king’s court, and looking at the convocation from Daniel 3:2-3, the wise men were not included in this particular event.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, however, were. And this is just another event that is aimed at stripping from them their national and religious identity, not just for them, but for every representative of every area now lying under the blanket of the Babylonian Empire.

They must bow, and in bowing, they are worshipping King Nebuchadnezzar, and in worshipping him, they are making less of their gods and adopting the sovereign rule of the King of Babylon, whose name means, “May Nebo protect the crown.” So in bowing to the king, they are also bowing to the false god that the king serves.

I’ll remind you that the title of this message is Leave the Consequences to God. I must admit that this title is not original. Dr. Charles Stanley, the late pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA, wrote a book called 30 Life Principles. It is a study through the Bible in which he identifies 30 basic life principles for Christians to live by as they walk with God. I highly recommend this study.

Life Principle number 2 is titled Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. This principle can be found all throughout the Bible, and we are commanded to obey God at all costs, trusting Him to work all things out for His glory and our good.

So, let’s look at these men’s obedience to the Lord in these decisions they had to make along with the consequences that followed.

Obey God

Decision 1

The first decision that we came to was the question, “Should we eat?” The obvious answer to that question is “no.” But the decision is really based on this question — “Do we eat?”

As they look around, Daniel and his three friends see that all their other friends are eating. I will remind you that these four individuals were in their teens, at the latest. This is a time of life when rational thought does not naturally prevail. This is a time in their development where peer pressure and emotions and a high value of self worth are at their highest. There is a need for belonging that does not exist at this level after reaching mature adulthood.

And though they had all that going against them, they chose to obey God, even when they were the only ones doing it.

Daniel 1:8–12 KJV 1900

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Daniel and his friends purposed in their hearts that they would not be defiled with the portion of the kings food or drink that would have been unclean and offered to idols. They would obey God’s command. Exodus 34:14-15

Exodus 34:14–15 KJV 1900

14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

They were not to eat of food sacrificed to idols.

When they made this decision, they were told by the man in charge of them that this would be a bad thing. There was no way that four teens eating pulse (vegetables) and drinking water would appear healthier than the ones eating a full diet of bread and meat and wine and fruit. And asking this was direct rebellion against the kings command, a crime punishable by death.

The chief eunuch tells them that they are asking him to risk his head, his life, for their request. Easily, this eunuch could have turned the 4 young men in and had them executed, but he agrees to the test — ten days of vegetables and water.

And look at what happens. Daniel 1:15-16

Daniel 1:15–16 KJV 1900

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

For three years, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego ate vegetables and drank water. FOR THREE YEARS!!! All the while watching their friends and even family members eat pork chops, bacon wrapped shrimp, filet mignon, veal, street tacos, enchiladas, and all other kinds of food. Why? Because enjoying that food was not worth disobeying God over. Enjoying that food was not worth losing their identity over, enjoying that sin was not worth it.

Not only did these four men come out of the three years looking more healthy than the others, look at what God blessed them with. Daniel 1:17-20

Daniel 1:17–20 KJV 1900

17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

What could the consequences have been? Death!

But no matter, these four young men understood one of the greatest principles we ought to live by - Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.

Decision 2

Can you see how that choice set Daniel and his friends up for the events in chapter 2, the king’s dream? Nebuchadnezzar dreams his troubling dream, and when no one can guess it, much less, interpret it, Daniel is given a vision and an interpretation by God. He reveals it to the king, and says, “Nobody else in the kingdom could have possibly done this, oh king,” And is then faced with the decision, “Do I take the credit for myself and get honored above all?”

But this is what Daniel says instead. Daniel 2:28

Daniel 2:28 KJV 1900

28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days...

King, it is God who will reveal this dream and its meaning to you. Daniel then proceeds to tell the king the dream and interpretation, and what is the consequence?

Daniel 2:48–49 KJV 1900

48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Decision 3

We come to the last decision that we have talked about. Should we bow? The answer is no, obviously. But imagine the pressure. Thousands upon thousands of people bowing and obeying the kings command. And to not bow would be to stick out like a sore thumb.

And that is exactly what happened. Daniel 3:12

Daniel 3:12 KJV 1900

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

In doing this, what were the possible consequences? Death. This was direct rebellion against a king’s decree. There was nothing subtle about it. And sure enough, Nebuchadnezzar became livid.

Daniel 3:13–15 KJV 1900

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

This was their time. They could have talked among themselves and said, “Look, we will obey the king on the outside, but we won’t sing the songs or actually worship, we will just appear to. We’ll obey the king on the outside and keep our faith private.” But they would not compromise. In fact, when offered this chance, they flatly refused it.

Look at their response. Daniel 3:16-18

Daniel 3:16–18 KJV 1900

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

“Oh king, we are not careful to answer you on this matter. This is a done deal, we do not even need to think about it. Don’t waste your time giving us another chance because we are not going to bow.

“You asked, ‘Who could possibly deliver you from the fire?’ Well, our answer is that our God is able to. However, even if He doesn’t, we’re not going to bow. We will not worship you nor will we serve your gods.”

What possible consequences could this bring? Death!!

And the king orders that the furnace be heated 7 times hotter than it already is. He commands that these three be bound and thrown into the fire, and when the order is carried out, the fire is so hot that the guards that throw them into the furnace die because of the flames that were coming out of the overheated furnace.

But as the king watched, he did not hear screams of agony. Instead, he observed four people walking around in the fire. Not running in pain, but walking around. He had cast three in, but the fourth, King Nebuchadnezzar recognized as a deity in human form. This must be none other than that God they were talking about.

So he calls out to the three:

Daniel 3:26 KJV 1900

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

The three walk out of the fire, and if you continue reading, you find that they did not even smell of smoke.

You also find that their obedience to God ultimately changes Nebuchadnezzar’s life. He decrees that the God of the Hebrews is the one true God, and that if anyone speaks something against Him, they should be put to death.

Then, the king promotes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

Conclusion

So what do we get from all of this? Simply — Obey God, and leave all the consequences to Him.

Wherever you are, obey God. Whoever is around you, obey God. Do not be timid about it, do not be shy. Obey God.

Others may hate you for it. You may get fired for it. You may lose friends over it. You may be ostracized, criticized, and persecuted for your faithful obedience for God. There may even come a day when you are faced with losing your life or even watching those you love lose their lives if you obey God.

Or, the opposite might happen. Since you and I are, at best, imperfect predictors of the future, and God is omnipotent and omniscient, then we should trust Him and leave all the consequences, whatever they may be, in His hands. Trusting that He has the best outcome in mind. Everything He leads us to will be for our ultimate good.

Romans 8:28 KJV 1900

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Every consequence of obeying God will work together for good.

Invitation