Rely on God 5

Daniel 6:20-22

One of the best examples of relying on God comes from the Book of Daniel. In the sixth chapter there is the story of how advisors to the Babylonian king Darius planned the undoing of Daniel. He was, after all, a foreigner, brought into Babylon from Judah. But they could find no fault or flaw in him. He was devoutly religious and an upstanding servant to the king.

So these advisors used Daniel’s religion as a trap. They convinced Darius to make a law that everyone must pray to him and no other god for thirty days (Daniel 6:6-9). Those who did not obey were to be thrown to the lions.

Of course, Daniel was a devout Jew who worshiped the one true God of Israel, so he did not bow down to worship Darius. Now, caught in his own snare, Darius had no choice but to punish this servant he liked so well (Daniel 6:14-16).

What is the king’s concern and question the following day? What did Daniel answer?

It is apparent that the king recognized, or at least hoped in, the power of Daniel’s god. He asked if the one true god had indeed saved him from the lions, and in fact God had done just that.

Daniel was in a difficult situation to say the least. He was sealed up in a den full of hungry lions, but God sent an angel to keep the lions from killing Daniel. Daniel knew in his heart that he could rely on God for his protection. He knew he could trust God to save him.

But he also pointed out that he was innocent. He was a blameless victim of circumstances, and we can assume it was his innocence that was at least partly responsible for his salvation.

Few of us, if any, are as blameless and devout as Daniel, but we can still learn from his situation. He trusted God completely and his intentions were to always serve God. If we can pass through the trials of life, and the challenges and temptations of the world with a spirit devoted to God, then we can rely on God for assistance and protection with the utmost of confidence.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you rely on God as you face the lions of life?