When life takes an unexpected turn

Daniel 1:1 “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.”

           (Let me just say here,  that Nebuchadnezzar was not the bloody monarch that just killed to be killing….but was very smart in all his world conquests.  

           He took crops, silver, gold, and the most intelligent of the people….as a spoil.  

           And the educated among the people to enlarge the wisemen that would serve him, and as treasurers and counselors in many subjects.

           And he left the others in the nations to plant and harvest grains and produce…particularly for him and his army…and some for the conquered nation, themselves.)

Daniel 1:2-4 “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his (Nebuchadnezzar) hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God:…

           And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the kings seed, and of the princes;

           Children in whom was no blemish,  but well favored, 

and skillful in all wisdom and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, 

and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace,  

and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”

Here was a list of requirements to go into education at Babylon…..and at least four young princes of Judah made it there:

           Daniel,  Hananiah,  Mishael,  Azariah.    These were their Hebrew names…all were changed.    (Altho Daniel is called Daniel most of the time)

Daniel,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  Abed-nego….these were four Hebrews which were given to this education…for three years.  

 They would have been in the household of the king….and part of the feasting of the palace.   

          Daniel may have been older,  but whether or not he was,  he was leader of their group….but they all were wanting to honor God in their captivity…however that was to be…

……for during their education…they were to be conformed to the requirements of language,  intelligence and knowledge,  and form, or countenance (for it was important that nothing ugly or sickly looking, be put before the king.)

Daniel 1:8, 12-14 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat (which would have been sacrificed to his gods, first…then given to the king’s household)….

….nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

          Prove thy servants, I beseech thee,  ten days;  and let them give us pulse (grains) to eat, and water to drink.

          Then  let our countenances be looked upon….and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

          So he consented to  them  in this matter, and proved them ten days.”

We can see that though Daniel was the spokesperson….all four of the Hebrews were in agreement…..that they not defile themselves.

           (This defilement  is spoken of in Deuteronomy, in the song of Moses:

Deuteronomy 32:31-32,38           To have entered into eating these meats and wine,  would have been entering into their worship)

These four woke up one day and were taken away from their home….everything they knew,  changed:

But they  wanted to serve God,  even in the foreign land!   

And their time of testing their belief in God, was successful….they looked healthier and stronger than the others.

        So they were allowed to continue, without defiling themselves…eating the meat and wine.

(And we, too, can not be friends with the world and be a friend of God.  1 John 2:15-17)

Daniel 1:17 “As for these four children,  God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom:…”

This was not their ability….but the ability that God gave them to be useful in the work there.      And they were.        

 They were well thought of….

….except in their love of God, and their stand with Him.

They had been “tried” a little in the food that they were to eat….but as their faith grew,  so did the trials that they were to face.

             Yet in each trial,  God was sufficient for it….for them.

Shadrach,  Meshach, and Abed-nego were called to bow to the golden idol of Nebuchadnezzar….yet did not.

             Tempted by the threat of death….they stood before the king and declared, (and it says that all three answered)…

……”If it be so,  our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,  and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

             But if not,  be it known unto thee,  O king, that we will not serve thy gods,  nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”  (Daniel 3:17-18)

We know that God saved them….alive in the furnace….Him being with them.

            But He would have been saving them,  if He had allowed them to be killed by the furnace….Him being with them.

            (How many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have died at the hands of the world?)

For the message was clear…..in life or death, they would not dishonor God:

           (Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope,   that in nothing I shall be ashamed,  but that with all boldness, as always,  so now also  Christ shall be magnified in my body,  whether it be by life ,  or by death.”)

I entitled this:  When life takes an unexpected turn.

How many Christians wake up one day, and find out they have cancer,  or another disease?

How many suffer loss…whether money, position, friends, or family?

           Our God is still with us!

Or how many wake up every day with the same routine?

          Our God is still with us!

Daniel and his friends….seeking to honor God,  found that His kingdom is everywhere…that He reigns everywhere…..and that God saw them and helped them….everywhere.

They were there to serve Babylon’s king….but they saw that his kingdom was transient….and would pass away.

         Whereas God’s kingdom and glory was everlasting….and was just as much a reality in Babylon, for them…as in Judah.

His grace is sufficient…..is what we must learn…through our many trials:

         2 Corinthians 6:1, 4-5, 9-10 “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

         But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,  in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

         In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

         …as dying, and behold, we live;  as chastened, and not killed;

         As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;     as poor, yet making many rich;  as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

Wherever we are in our life….God is still with us!    Let us seek His honor and glory…and do the work we are called to.