Escape Clause

Escape Clause

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Daniel 3:16-18

Most airplanes and submarines have an escape hatch. It’s a door that opens to provide a way out in an emergency. Similarly, many legal contracts have what is called an escape clause. It describes a way out of the contract without having to fulfill the agreement.

Some people think that to pray passionately for something and then to follow it with “if it be your will” is giving God an escape clause—a way out of doing what we’re asking him to do. But saying “if it be your will” is not giving God an escape clause or helping him save face. It is a humble recognition that we can’t presume to know what God will do. It’s a commitment to trust God regardless of what he does.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t pretend that they knew what God would do in their situation when they were thrown into a blazing hot furnace, and there is no evidence that they cried out to God telling him what they thought he should do. Because they knew God and trusted God, they believed he would do what was right, even if it resulted in their deaths. Their commitment was to remain true to God no matter what. They knew God needs no escape clause. He can be trusted to always do what is right.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

Have you ever felt trapped inside a space and in need of a way out?

Which do you think would have required more genuine faith for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—to believe God would save them from a fiery death or to commit to love him even if he didn’t?

Read about some people of faith in Hebrews 11:29-39. What does this list show us about what faith looks like when God saves and when he does not?