In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. . . Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the kings descendants and some of the nobles, . . . Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. . . But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1: 1, 3, 6, 8, NKJV.
Dear God, we are truly grateful that even in captivity we can choose to be led by You. May we always make You our choice. In the holy name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.
Yesterday, we observed how God led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness, providing for their every need, until they decided to walk as they pleased – a decision which eventually led to their death. Today we are going to see how, while in captivity, Daniel and His friends were led by God to the very heights of the Babylonian kingdom.
When we allow God to lead us we can enjoy complete freedom even in captivity. When we choose to walk as we please we become prisoners of our freedom of choice. Why? Because Jesus is the Way; knows the way, and has already walked in the way. That is the reason He can keep us from falling into the traps set by the master deceiver.
Daniel and his friends had to choose between feeling flattered and accepting to eat from the king’s banquet table, or remaining faithful to the laws of health they had learned as children in their parents home. To eat the food from the king’s table would represent their way, the way of least resistance. After all, many of the other eunuchs were also captives, and they did not have a problem with eating from the kings table; why should they? To refuse to eat the food from the king’s table and choose a simpler diet would be to let God lead; something they had learned in their parents home. It could represent problems, not only for them, but for the chief of the eunuchs as well (10). Nevertheless, choosing God’s way had become their way of life.
We know the end of the story. Daniel and his three friends made their decision to let God lead them and they were blessed abundantly: “And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. . . As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. . . Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm” (18-20).
When we allow God to lead us He is responsible for the outcome of our lives. And who better than the One who, “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1: 14)?