Daniel 3 Where was Daniel?
Even though I am unable to maintain the schedule I originally set out for this blog, I can’t pass up this point from this week’s scripture selection.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went through the fiery furnace without a singe or even the scent of smoke or fire on their garments. But where was Daniel?
I can’t say that the question never crossed my mind, but I find it very irresponsible to leave the question unanswered or unapproached. My Sunday school quarterly did just that by including the question “Where was Daniel?” and then continuing his discussion about styles of worship. To me this is Drive-by-Theology, and it infuriates me.
There is an explanation. But as is typical of most scoffers, they don’t really want to find it. They would prefer to believe that Daniel probably gave in and bowed down to the gold statue. But the last two verses of chapter 2 (Daniel 2:48-49) provide some enlightening to this situation. Daniel was no longer with his three friends. He had become the top ruler over all Babylon and remained in the Royal Court. So the informants who tattled on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego hadn’t the opportunity to observe Daniel.