I’m Dobbing On You
I’m not proud of my young dobbing habit but as the youngest, weakest and dumbest member of the family I had few other vices.
Reference: v.8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. (TNIV Bible)
Explore: As the youngest daughter of three girls I became very good at dobbing. This is when I would perceive that my sisters had acted poorly and I would run and tell the nearest adult of their wrongdoing. I’m not proud of my young dobbing habit but as the youngest, weakest and dumbest member of the family I had few other vices. There were times when my parents would heed my concerns and come to my rescue but there were other times when they just seemed to ignore my whinging! I can’t really blame them though, who likes a dobber?!
Application: While my dobbing may have been a ploy to get my parents’ attention, it certainly didn’t put anyone’s life in jeopardy. However in Daniel 3 we hear about some hard-core dobbers. The king had made a decree to worship his statue and the Jews weren’t complying, so the astronomers dobbed on them (sounds very grade 2, doesn’t it?). The punishment for such insolence however was death, so the astronomers were putting the Jews’ life in danger. Why did they have to dob? Did the Jews affect them that much? Did they want them dead to get their positions of power? Well, what ever their reason it backfired massively. Instead of the Jews being humiliated and killed, it gave God an opportunity to make Himself known to the most powerful man at the time.
When people wrong us we can get angry, hurt and even want to seek revenge. But what if, out of our pain, God could make Himself known to the people around us? Our reaction can either shut the door to God’s presence or open the door for God to shine through. If we are able to be faithful followers like the Jews in the this story then we will allow God to move through our lives in times of trouble.
Prayer: Lord, may we see our times of trouble as opportunities for you to shine. Give us the perseverance to stay faithful to You just as the Jews did standing up to the king. Amen.
How has God shone through in your times of trial?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.