In Daniel 1:8-17, we see that Daniel and his friends are not in Babylon by choice. They're there because Israel sinned. The Babylonians took them back to their country because they excelled and were some of the best and brightest minds Israel had to offer. They were also not there because of a dream or call from God nor because of their own sin. They worshiped the one true God.
Early in their introduction to Babylonian culture and life, they were allotted food from the king's delicacies. They convinced the one responsible for their well being to give them just vegetables. Many people use this to say being a vegetarian is better. In fact, the meat provided was routinely offered to idols, and they wanted no part of it. They gained the trust of their caretaker, and prospered.
In Daniel 2:1-13 - The king has a dream and is so disturbed that he calls for all his wise men to interpret it. This time, however, he requires that they tell him the dream before giving its meaning. They admit to their inability to do this, and he's enraged. The order goes out to kill all the wise men - including Daniel.
Dreams come from two sources: God or the enemy. The enemy would not want those deceiving the king to be killed. We know from the the story that the dream came from God for the purpose of promotion. However, the very dream meant for promotion could have resulted in Daniel's death if he didn't step up and use wisdom.
Daniel asks Arioch, who is coming to kill him why this is so urgent? He asks for a day, and promises to not only tell the king his dream, but also the interpretation. If he'd asked things like, "Why is this happening to me or what did I do to deserve this kind of treatment," the story would have ended here. His question caught Arioch's attention and gained him an audience with the king.
Many people declare that whatever happens to us is God's will. The truth is if you don't handle a "training day" right, it could be lethal. Daniel prepared himself for those critical times when he'd be called upon to give a godly answer. God gives us the opportunity to prepare for tough times, but if we don't get ready, it's not His fault.
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If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 AM. Children's Services also begin at the same time. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. We look forward to meeting you!
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