Hebrew children or Hebrew men?

I am sure you have heard Shadrach, Meshach and Obendego referred to as Athe three Hebrew children@ as I have. I may have said it myself, it is a popular phrase. But I am not going to say it anymore.



First of all, scripture refers to them as men. In Dan. 3:12 and again in verse 16 they were called men. We need to rely on scripture, and that alone. So many people are led and deceived by stories and tales they hear some preacher say. I have heard, as you may have too, someone telling you something that is in the bible, that is not there. They have heard someone they trust tell them about the bible, but haven=t checked for themselves like the noble Bereans. Sunday School classes, may sing beloved Sunday school songs, but are they scriptural? I have 3 young children, and there are many biblical books for children, with cute cartoons and pictures, but some, not all, misrepresent the biblical record of truth on some of the more widely know biblical, historical tales. You may think that it is unimportant, or taking this too far, but is it really? How many wise men were at the manger to see Jesus when he was born? Answer: Zero. The wise men did not go to the manger, but the home, not to see the infant babe, but the young child. Well how many wise men were there? We don=t know, it does not say. There were three gifts, but the bible does not tell us how many men there were. Not going by biblical record, and just repeating the stories and saying we have heard, are doing harm to the hearers of the word. Is it a rank heresy if someone says Hebrew children, no of course not, but I use this example to illustrate a broader issue, that is the accuracy and final authority of scripture, and how subtly the Devil works in putting doubt and misunderstanding in the hearts and minds of hearers of the word of God. Note Eve, Did God really say?.. Our job is not to criticize the bible, but to base our beliefs on scripture, not on what we have heard. Our era, more than any other, has no excuse for not knowing what the bible teaches on a subject. In the country in which we live, there is not trouble getting and reading the bible. From the internet, to numerous stores, we have so much access to scripture, and helps, there is no excuse for us. I am not trying to say that simply using the phrase Hebrew children indicates one lacking in knowledge, study or ability to teach, so I ask that you not take it in that light, but after catching myself say it, and considering why I said it, some thoughts that came from my own meditation on phrasing and why I am not going to say it anymore.




The second reason I don=t say Hebrew children is, even if they were children or young men, they sure did not act like it. Shadrach, Meshach and Obendego acted like men. I Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. This may not be politically correct, but it is biblically correct, they acted like men. Is it a reflection on our society, that in some places, it may be required for one to explain what it means to act like a man? In our time, that is insulting to say act like a man. We live in a culture that tries to feminize men, especially younger boys. That boys are taught that their God given instincts to protect and lead are wrong and are taught they are no different that the girls. Public schools will take a boy, full of the natural masculine tendencies given to him by God, and will be put on medication and forced to get in touch with his feminine side. There is a difference in overlooking sin by saying boys will be boys, and actually allow boys to be boys. How many times do you think that David used his sling before he met Goliath? He certainly was not home playing with dolls during his youth. But acting like a man, is not meant here by pastimes, but by taking charge of the situation, and standing up for what is right and what you believe in. Despite the challenges that were presented, and despite what they faced, they acted like the spiritual leaders men should act like.



They did not compromise when others did. Ephesians 4:13-15 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Every pastor of the Lord=s churches would love to have men like Shadrach, Meshach and Obendego. When the music started playing and everyone bowed down, but them. They did not succumb to peer pressure, they did not bow to keep from starting trouble, they did not bow because the were not tossed to and fro by this wicked idolatry. In Ephesians four, we read of the Lord's church, that in the preaching of the word, the members of the church, as the body of Christ, should grow in the truth unto a full grown man, that not acting like children, being tossed about by everything they hear and see. The devil attacks the churches of our Lord in such a way, seeking to devour. When trouble comes, and it will, there needs to be men, who will stand and speak the truth, who will not bow the knee to false doctrine, false teachings, and head to fables by those who subvert the truth. No, we are to have a child like faith in the word, in humility, but we are not to act like children in the work of the Lord. Could you imagine, being held captive in this foreign land, all the things these people had done to their families and homes, the decree that had already been issued, facing death. What about their job? They were ones whom had been put in a position that set over the affairs of the province. Did they waiver? Did they compromise, why after all, what good would they be if they were dead, there is no need to start a fight, or cause trouble, right? No, when the others bowed the knee, God had men who acted like me, and stood and fought the good fight of faith.



I do not call them children, because they were men in the faith. Timothy, apparently, had some issue with his age, as Paul instructed that others should not despise his youth. Timothy, though young in age, was mature in truth. There are some people, who the Lord saw fit to save at a young age, have been Christians and Baptist for many, many years. And there are those, who are elders in the flesh, who the Lord was pleased to save in the later years of life, who are babes in Christ. I won't call these men the Hebrew children because they acted like men in the faith. Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. They may have been younger men in years, but they were men of faith. Others, who may have fell, and may have been deceived in the idol worship, these men were strong. You may say, well God has not given me such wisdom, I am a babe in Christ because I haven=t been blessed with knowledge. Did you ask? Have you prayed for wisdom? You have not because you ask not. God promises wisdom to those who ask and seek it. I once heard a song on the radio praising this kind of attitude. It went "I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed, what God has planned." In an attitude that it was either not important or only for some people to know what God has willed. If you want to know, read it. He told us in His word! Why was the songwriter not skilled? Because they have not grown. You may question that not all will know as much, God blesses some with incredible knowledge of scripture. That is true. What is also true is strong meat belongeth TO THEM THAT ARE FULL AGE even those WHO BY REASON OF USE have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. I also know that the giants of the faith did not learn and know the truth through osmosis, those who have a great knowledge, spend great time in study and prayer, and God blesses them in it. I am not inclined to believe that these Hebrew men just woke up and knew what they knew out of no where. As David was prepared in the field with the lion and the bear for Goliath, and Elijah was prepared for Carmel at the brook of Cherith, so are God's people prepared for their struggles in this life, by preparation. Study to show thyself approved.



They stood up like men, in the face of evil, and spoke the truth. Dan. 3:17-18 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. 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.



Like men, they submitted to their true King, the Lord Jesus. Little children, when mom and dad tell them things, like to ask why? They have problems listening and accepting authority. We do that as well, when we murmur and complain about things that happen in our lives. When is it said, "why does this happen to me?", who are we asking? We are questioning God. But the men of our story said thy will be done. What a reply! How we can learn from these men. God is able to deliver us from the furnace, if it is His will. And if it is not his will, and we die in the furnace, either way, O king, He is going to deliver us out of your hand. So either way, we are delivered, and either way we are not going to worship your false god.



Now that I have told you why they were men, and not children, I will tell you why they are children. They were men among men, they were men of faith, but they were the children of God. Indeed, so much courage shown in the face of so much to loose, so many to go against, but because they were children of God, they were never alone. They had a child like faith in God.



They were the adopted children, by faith, trusting in God.



They were the children of God because they loved him, not through their works, but by faith.




The bible, time and again, is full of accounts of ordinary people, whom the world thought little of, never would have noticed, or in positions of hardship, doing the extraordinary in the service of God for His glory. It is our God who hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. It is our Lord who enables men to stand like men, and may God help us all to stand for the truth.