Daniel and His Friends

     The faith of Daniel and his friends in the Old Testament book “Daniel” also led to a great miracle.  Daniel was brought to the courts of Babylon during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, along with three children the king named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  King Nebuchadnezzar was, of course, not from the land of Israel, and his house probably knew little of the Jewish laws, customs and culture.  Because of this, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would run into situations where they were asked to violate some of the laws of God given through the Law of Moses.

     The first time Daniel and his friends found the king’s command directed them to disobey God came with their daily meals.  The king had instructed that a portion of his meat and wine would be given to the children for food in order to get them healthy and strong before they were brought before him.  The Law of Moses did not forbid them from eating all meat.  It instead instructed them not to eat fat or blood.  (Leviticus 7:22-27)  Further instruction is given in the Law of Moses forbidding the consumption of certain living things, deeming them unclean.  (Leviticus 11)  It stands to reason that the food they were instructed to eat fell among the forbidden groups in some manner because Daniel and his friends didn’t want to eat it for fear of angering God.

     The man in charge of their meals was afraid that, if they didn’t eat the meat and drink the wine, they would not be healthy like the other children when they went before the king.  Fortunately Daniel had become friends with this man and was able to strike a deal.  For ten days he and his friends would be allowed to eat fruits and grains and drink water.  If they were not as healthy as the other children, they would then eat the king’s meat and drink his wine.  Otherwise they would be allowed to continue eating and drinking the fruits, grain, and water.  At the end of the ten days, the four friends were healthier than the other children.

     The time finally came when the children were brought before the king.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego proved to be extremely bright children because of the blessings of God that came through their obedience.  Daniel was even able to interpret a dream God had given to King Nebuchadnezzar by the power of the Spirit of God.  So they found favor with the king and would dwell in his court.

     Several differences in culture between the Babylonians and the Jews led to other circumstances where the four friends would be instructed to break the laws of God.  I want to speak briefly of two.  The first came when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered an idol to be built and instructed his kingdom to worship it.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be thrown in a fiery furnace for refusing to worship a false god.  Because of their faith, they spoke with the Son of God while in the furnace and were able to come out of the furnace unharmed.  (Daniel 3)

     The second came with the fall of Babylon.  The Medians conquered Babylon and Daniel was taken into the courts of King Darius.  King Darius also recognized Daniel was valuable because of the favor he had with God (though King Darius probably didn’t realize this).  So the king placed Daniel in one of the top positions of power in his kingdom.  Other leaders in the land convinced the king to sign a decree that would prevent Daniel from praying.  The punishment for breaking the law was to be cast into a den of lions.

     Daniel had such strong faith in God that he didn’t fear men or what they could do to him.  So he continued to pray.  By the decree of the king, Daniel had to be cast into the lion’s den.  But God rewarded the faith of Daniel.  The lions caused him no harm and he came forth unscathed.

     These are among the many miracles God will work for those who have faith in Him.  When you love God and place Him above everything else, you will have no reason to fear man or beast.  God can protect you from either one.  When you place God first, you will find He can strengthen you and place you in better circumstances than those around you or than you would otherwise find yourself in.  God can give you everything.  All that is required is faith and obedience.