Who are you? What is your identity? There are several ways to identify someone. Physical characteristics, behaviors, DNA, social security number, fingerprints, cars we drive, houses we buy, but the most personal way is in a name. Your name is an intimate way to identify yourself and to be known.
This year we are studying the book of Daniel at church. I was interested in this book as I had not studied it before. Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem, and carried some Jewish people back to Babylon in captivity. Daniel, along with three of his friends, became captives and fell under the king’s notice. These young men were of the royal family and nobility. They were without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. (Daniel 1:3-4)
Nebuchadnezzar changed their names. Maybe he hoped they would forget about their homeland and their God. Whatever his reason, it seems clear that he wanted them to assimilate fully into Babylonian culture. Instead of names that reflected God, each new name reflected various Babylonian deities. Daniel means “God is my judge,” but his new Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, means “servant of Nebo.” Hananiah means the grace of the Lord. Shadrach means the inspiration of the sun. Mishael means “he that is the strong God; Meschach means “of the goddess Shach. Azariah means “the Lord is a help”; Abednego means “the servant of the shining fire.” These names all reflect things the Babylonians worshipped.
I started to think about Daniel and his friends. Who am I, and where do I find my identity? God says that I am a child of God because I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. A conquering enemy has not carried me into captivity; however, I am still vulnerable to giving up my identity. I live as a captive to sin every day I am alive. This world is not my true home. I am finally “home” when I get to Heaven. There is no evil king to rename me, but I have an enemy who is constantly trying to get me to forget my identity and be known as what the world says I am. I have an enemy that wants me to forget about my God and Heaven and identify with the world. This enemy wants to steal my identity and therefore steal my purpose. If I know who I am, then I know what I am supposed to do.
These two identities oppose one another. The world says, “me first,” and God says to put Him above all else. God calls us to love and serve others above ourselves. The world says to take advantage of people before they take advantage of you. Jesus taught to go the extra mile; if someone asks you to go one mile, go two. If they ask for your cloak, give them your coat too. (Matthew 5) The world sets up idols to worship and adore. God says we are to have no other gods before Him. (Exodus 20:2) God gives us standards to incorporate into our lives. The world says anything goes, as long as it makes you happy.
I wonder if Daniel and his friends were discouraged living in Babylon and having everything stripped away, even their identities. It would have been effortless for them to assimilate into the kingdom they were now living in. All they had to do was turn their back on their God and the God of their people and worship the gods of Babylon. They served in the king’s palace and learned all about their new land, language, and literature of the Babylonians. They were even given food and wine from the king’s table. It does not sound like Nebuchadnezzar mistreated these particular three captives.
As children of God, we are living in a similar situation. We live in a world that wants our hearts, minds, and souls. We eat of the land we live in; are part of the culture, and every day we must fight to not turn our backs on our God. Verse eight says Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. As I read this, I asked myself if I would be strong enough to go against the king’s orders and not eat food from the king’s table? Would I trust God to supply my needs and not fear the king’s wrath? Am I strong enough to not want the things this world offers that pull my heart and one true love away from God?
As the story continues, Nebuchadnezzar had a large image made of gold and had it set up. An order went out commanding everyone to bow down and worship it when they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music. Astrologers came forward and told Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not following the decree. Nebuchadnezzar became furious and ordered the furnace to be heated to seven times hotter than usual and threw the three men into the furnace. He was so arrogant he thought no one could save them. The three responded that their God is able and will rescue them, but even if He didn’t, they would not bow down to Nebuchadnezzar. As a child hearing this story, I never realized that in recounting this story, these young men are known by their Babylonian names, not their Hebrew names.
I am so encouraged by this truth. I saw that no matter what name people refer to us by God is always with us. It does not matter what the world calls us, we are His children, and He knows us not just by name, but He knows how many hairs are on our head. These young men entered captivity and had everything they knew stripped from them. However, they did not assimilate into their new culture or give up their faith in the one true God. They are an example that I must resist the desire to embrace my culture and weaken my faith in the one true God. God wants my heart. They were willing to die for their faith. Do I struggle to tell people I believe in God and go to church?
We live in a complicated world. Many people are against Christians and want to strip us of our identity—things of this world attempt to lure us away and lead us into rebellion against God. We need friends like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Friends that stand together and help each other during tough times – when the world is against us and insists, we bow down to the latest king of our culture.
I learned that it does not matter what name identifies us. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith and actions glorified God. They had faith in their God, and He did rescue them from the fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar praised the God of these three Jewish men and realized it was their God who rescued them. He informed the people that no one could say anything against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s God and that no other god could save in this way. God does not always rescue us, for if He did, we would not need faith, and what we did have would be very shallow. Their faith grew, I believe, because they saw God at work in their lives and for them as they were carried into and lived in captivity. This growth enabled them to believe in God when they faced certain death, and the only way of escape was by God delivering them.
As I live in my own Babylon, I am learning that my identity is not in a name or anything else of this world. I can have confidence that my identity is secure as a child of God. I need to be on my guard for Satan, who wants to steal my identity by luring me away to identify with things of this world. External things that I am identified by will pass away and change over time. However, my identity as a child of God is eternal. When I have a clear view of my true identity, I will be able to live that out in a world that wants me to bow to the latest golden statue set up and fully trust in God and live for Him.
I pray that I will be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and not bow to this world but live in such a way that my faith glorifies God
Peace in the Desert 