Daniel

MyGen Profile GeneratorDaniel Daniel was among the Jews who were carried off into captivity in Babylon about 2600 years ago.Even though he was a captive, he received an education and rose to a high position in the Babylonian government. He later rose to a high position in the Persian government after the Persians conquered Babylon. Because of his faith in God he was persecuted by the Babylonians. At one point, he was thrown into a den of lions, but survived.The Bible's book of Daniel deals with many historical events of that era. His book also contains prophecies concerning the future. Daniel saw and described the great world empires that were to come. He also saw the power of God and of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) who was to come and undo the evil of this world.The book of Daniel is divided into two parts. The first part is a collection of narratives about Daniel and his friends (Chapters 1 - 6). The second part is a collection of apocalyptic visions foreseeing the course of world history (Chapters 7 - 12).After a three-year training period in Babylon, Daniel was found to be smarter than all of the skilled magicians and wise astrologers in Babylon, and was appointed as a counselor to King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel held that position until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.Daniel stayed true to God and prayed three times a day. He refused to bow to idols, and would not eat the food or drink the wine furnished by the King. He ate only vegetables and drank water. Through his faithfulness, God gave him the power to interpret dreams, see into the future, and God gave him a long life.The name Daniel means "God is my judge." His book is the fourth book of the four Major Prophets.How do we remain true to God when most people around us don't believe or trust him? This was the situation of teen aged Daniel and a few of his relatives, picked to go to Babylon (now in Iraq) for a 3 year program for young Israelites from the royal family. With the rapid growth of his empire, king Nebuchadnezzar needed more government workers. They had to learn the Babylonian language and literature, take Babylonian names, and become citizens. Whereas some of the group ate the royal food diet the king provided, Daniel and his 3 companions knew they would be defiled to eat meat sacrificed to idols. So he asked and got their guard's permission for a 10 day test to eat veggies and water instead. God was with them, and not only did they do well on their diet, but by the end of the 3 years, they were 10 times better than the kingdom's "best and brightest".The King of Babylon was so successful, conquering the world -- ruling over a great empire -- being so wealthy, wouldn't you think he'd be one happy man? Well, you would be wrong! His dreams had gotten so bad he couldn't sleep. So he decided to get some personal use of all the education he'd been pouring into the smartest of the smart men in his kingdom. Leary of their conspiracy, he decided that they would not only have to interprete his dream, but to tell him what it was. This way, he could confirm that they really had some wisdom about the matter. Otherwise, they die. "Oh, wow," they said. "No one but the gods could both tell you your dream and interpret it -- and gods don't reveal what they know to men!" "So what good is your wisdom to me? Guards, find and execute all the wise men of Babylon!" When the commander of the king's guard found and explained the situation to Daniel, Daniel requested access to the king, and asked him for a stay of execution, time to find the answers. With Nebuchadnezzar's permission, Daniel went home and asked his three friends to interceed with the God of heaven. No one slept that night, and God revealed all the truth to Daniel in a vision. They spent the rest of the night praising God, then Daniel ordered the guard to take him to the king. Daniel introduced him to the God in heaven who reveals mysteries. Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgement of God was short lived. Similar to what we anticipate from Rev 13:14-15, the king had a great statue made, and commanded everyone to worship it. Some people noticed that Daniel's three friends weren't worshiping it. Among the Gentiles, these three had first turned down food from the king, and now his command for idol worship. "The God we serve is able to save us from (burning to death), and He will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (3:17-18) God's signs and wonders to confirm His message and existence to people often involves healing, but God is also able to do the impossible in innumberable ways. Nebuchanezzar made a decree -- not requiring all to believe in this God, but that no one is to say anything against this God. This can't be decreed, but I invite you: trust in God, and be willing to give up your life rather than to serve or worship any god but Him.