It was over
Life as they knew it was irreversibly changed.
It’s one thing to lose your belongings. It’s another thing to lose your family and quite another to lose your country.
Daniel had lost all three. He had also lost an invaluable fourth.
His freedom(1).
This is the man who believed God would still hear him.
Let me clarify that.
This was the boy who believed God would still hear him.
It’s one thing to hear and believe words of encouragement when you’re in the comfort of church. It’s quite another thing to believe that the same God who watched life careen head first into you is willing to do something to help you out.
Like a famous boxer once said; everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
The fresh captives from Israel had been dealt a knockout punch.
Instead for reaching instinctively for comfort, they decided to take a stand for God.
Pause for just a moment.
Today we’re worried about being disliked. Today we’re worried about being cancelled.
They were in real danger of losing their lives but still they stood.
Today grown men often buckle in the face of adversity.
Daniel was of noble birth, as were his friends(2). There often is a lack of resolve associated with a previous life of privilege.
That was not the case of Daniel and his friends.
In today’s world, too many preach that trouble is indicative of God’s absence.
Too many give up on faith when life hits them full on…and life has a way of doing that.
The book of Daniel has multiple stories themed around the concept of resolve.
Resolve to do the right thing
Resolve to remain faithful to God
Resolve to not bow even if God doesn’t help
There are other things to see in Daniel’s book. Yes God had given up Israel to captivity, but He hadn’t lose sight of the hearts that had taken unthinkable blows but remained faithful him.
When Daniel’s cohort refused the Kings delicacies, THE KING made sure they were healthier than those who had a steady diet of protein(3).
They were also distinguished with wisdom beyond the normal.
The one who had forsaken Israel for all intents and purposes, stepped in to defend the ones who still believed.
Maybe that’s you. Maybe very little in your life speaks of God’s presence.
Maybe you’re on the verge of giving in. After all, what does it matter to a God who has been silent through previous pain.
Maybe there were time you took a stance for God believing He was going to come through and He didn’t.
Maybe life has punched you enough to question the existence and love of God.
I’m sure Daniel prayed that he would not be captured.
That prayer wasn’t answered but he didn’t stop praying.
That’s a good cue to take.
The God that chose to be silent in one season of Daniel’s life chose to take centre stage in another season.
Don’t conclude because yesterday’s prayer wasn’t answered.
God’s ways are definitely not our ways and like Daniel you may end up at the top of the class because you chose to take a stand for Him (4).
1-Dan 1 v 3
2- Dan 1 v 3
3-Dan 1 v 15
4-Dan 1 v 18