I was 8 years old when we went to South Africa’s Kruger National Park as a family. We’d seen many amazing animals but no lion as we concluded our safari by car, and I felt bitterly disappointed. As we stopped at the exit gate, I took one last look down the dusty road behind us and there she was! Without thinking, I jumped out of the car and began running towards her shouting, “Lion, it’s a lion!”
This story came to mind as I was thinking of Daniel in the lion’s den. King Darius had made Daniel an administrator, who protected the interests of the king (Daniel 6:1-2). Daniel had been living in Babylon as a captive since his youth and had served three monarchs. Even though he lived in a pagan culture, Daniel remained faithful to God and experienced His intervention in his life.
King Darius so valued Daniel and his abilities that he planned “to place him over the entire empire” (Daniel 6:3). This caused the other administrators to become consumed with jealousy, and they plotted to take him down (Daniel 6:4-5). They proposed a new law, signed by the king, which stated that for 30 days any person who prayed to anyone except the king—whether divine or human—would be thrown into a den of lions (Daniel 6:7). Daniel’s response revealed his deep, complete confidence in God: “He went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open . . . . He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God” (Daniel 6:10).
Unlike my foolish jog in the park, Daniel was wise to trust in God’s power and provision. We too can rest confidently in Him and His faithful ways today, knowing that He actively intervenes in our lives.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 27:1-26
More:
Read Psalm 118:8 and think about where it’s best to place your trust today.
Next:
Where do you find your confidence when you’re under pressure? Why can you trust in God’s power and provision today?
Gary Shultz on November 16, 2016 at 5:40 am
Ruth, I must admit, I would have loved to have heard the conversation in the car after you were retrieved. There are those “saints of old” that just had amazing faith, their lives were focuses on God and pleasing Him without wavering. What a lesson in themselves and their relationship with God and His blessing to them. Although the grace of God and His Spirit now bless us more in different ways since the work of Christ we now have a greater call. The land we are invested in is not in the earth as we know it, now we have been called to a higher calling. God has given us the goal of our citizenship which is with the Father “Who is in Heaven”. We see in a much clearer way, the power of God’s love through Jesus, and we are called to it. We walk, we see, we live life by the hope of faith. And great it is to those, like Daniel, who draw close to God, and let nothing else stand in the way of that relationship. If not there will be lions in the road. Thanks Ruth, and don’t feed the animals.
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on November 16, 2016 at 9:29 am
Hi Gary, my gran always said I should have many adventures throughout life so I have something to talk about in my old age – I have taken her advice..to the extreme on occasion 😉 Daniel has to be one of my favorite Bible characters. I think his determination to serve only God throughout his life, even in the very heart of one of the most God-less cultures is a great encouragement to me in the culture I live in. May I (through the power of the Holy Spirit) be just as bold (or even half as bold) as Daniel was in demonstrating his love for God, without compromise.
hsnpoor on November 16, 2016 at 5:54 pm
LOL!!
gagirllive on November 16, 2016 at 6:37 am
Ruth, the verse you highlight in today’s passage (v. 10) is the most encouraging part of the text for me. Every time I read this segment of scripture, I pause and think about the implications of what might have happened had Daniel not been so faithful to God. In Eugene Peterson’s book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, he writes about how our confidence in God is manifested in our commitment to our daily, seemingly ordinary acts of obedience to the things we’ve been called to do, especially in the obscure and private areas of our lives that no one else sees. I’m reminded of that again as I read that Daniel continued on “as usual” or “as was his custom” in response to the new law of the land. I’m sure his act of worship through prayer wasn’t some religious routine but rather a deeply felt dependence on God and reverence for Him. In the face of opposition, Daniel didn’t have to come up with a new strategy to appeal to God for help. He simply did what he had always done, namely, turn to God in confident prayer. May we be so like-minded as we face opposition. May our commitment to and confidence in God be unwavering, unchanged by the edicts of this world that operate with the spirit of anti-christ. May we be found like Daniel—carrying on “as usual”—faithful in our daily devotion to Christ and His charge to us. God still shuts the mouths of lions for His faithful ones. Appreciate this encouraging word from you, Ruth. A blessed day to you and all my fellow travelers.
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on November 16, 2016 at 9:37 am
I agree gagirllive. May our daily devotion to God never fall prey to the busyness of life or the distracting and often Godless clutter of our culture. May we continue, unswerving in our faith and our earnest commitment to Christ.
hsnpoor on November 16, 2016 at 6:03 pm
In this post-election period, I was taken with the scripture cited in the “More” section: “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people” – Psalm 118:8 (or, horses or chariots, for that matter…:). Picture of that lion is magnificent and, like Gary, I would have liked to have heard that conversation after they corralled you too!
Tom Felten on November 16, 2016 at 8:55 am
Ruth, I love this illustration. And, like Gary, I’m wondering what exactly happened after your sprint out of the car and once you were safely back inside of it. I love how the text declares that Daniel continued to pray three times a day in his room “with its windows open.” It’s left me to ponder what that looks like in today’s context. How am I living out a “windows open” faith?
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on November 16, 2016 at 9:18 am
Yes Tom. His blatant openness with his faith really goaded those around him and yet somehow I can’t imagine Daniel was willfully wanting to irritate his contemporaries. It’s almost as if his absolute devotion to God was so complete, he could not be moved by any desire to please people. He sought only to please God – even if it did land him in the midst of a pack of lions.
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on November 16, 2016 at 9:22 am
From what I can recall, the adults in the car jumped out and ran after me, shouting for me to get back in the car – “that’s a real lion Ruth!!” Thank God she didn’t seem the least bit interested in me and all the fuss 😀
hsnpoor on November 16, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Thank you for sharing that, Ruth! Had it been me and my parents, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have to recall what happened; it would have been indelibly imprinted in my mind and on my behind for all time!
minkjh on November 16, 2016 at 9:42 am
“Even though he lived in a pagan culture”…rings familiarity for us today. It’s highly probable that Daniel’s prayer life was well-known to the Babylonians and Persians. Their jealousy reeked of prejudice. A lesser person could have made adjustments, opting to lay low until the 30 days elapsed. But as the three boys displayed earlier at the fiery furnace, there would be no compromise for Daniel. His actions verify his faith in God. They are demonstrable proof of the words Peter spoke to Jesus when he said ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’. May we all dare to be a Daniel today and everyday!
god loving child on November 16, 2016 at 9:51 am
I would always feel confident when under pressure whenever I know that God is in control of all things. Everything is possible through Him. thank you God.
envirotact on November 16, 2016 at 9:58 am
I know this is off topic, but one of the things I look forward to most about heaven is getting to pet the big cats. I can’t wait! I’m hoping for a cheetah near my mansion. And those breath taking bengal tigers….can’t wait to stand next to one and touch him without harm. I pray its soon.
sandy229 on November 16, 2016 at 10:01 am
Thank you Ruth for telling us your story. I’m sure your parents and other adults in the car freaked out when you ran after the lion. I know that God protects us from harm when we put our trust in Him. There is nothing too difficult for Him, so no matter what we go through, He will be there to rescue us. Sometimes He may wait until what we consider the last minute to rescue us, but that is only so we will remember to give Him the glory, and to increase and strengthen our faith.
Shalom to all
youssef1777 on November 16, 2016 at 2:36 pm
BECAUSE HE HAS NO FEAR. HE KNOWS WHO WILL PROTECT HIM FROM ANY HARM . THAT GOD WHOM HE WAS ALWAYS PRAYING TO HIM .
sim jing ying on November 16, 2016 at 6:42 pm
I find my comfidence in Jesus Christ in times of pressure and He gives rest to those who needs it. I can trust God’s power and provision for me today as He’s will for me today is always good.