On Daniel 1 - God is in Control

God is leading me to Daniel this month. It seems a strange place to re-ignite my spiritual walk. I was thinking that He would have me read one of the gospels or the epistles. Why an Old Testament book of prophecy? I questioned this all morning until I started reading today. God knows what He's doing (was there any doubt?).

Why do bad things happen? There are a myriad of reasons. But no matter what happens, God is always in control of the situation. He allows challenges to happen to us to increase our faith, shape us into His image, force us to trust Him, teach others that He is sovereign, as punishment for our sin. These are but a few reasons I found just reading the first chapter of Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, beseiged Jerusalem in about 605 B.C. Daniel 1:2 says, "And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand." Why would God deliver the king of His nation into the hand of the enemy? Because of Jehoiakim's disobedience. This shows that nothing happens without God's hand in it. God was still in control of the situation, even though it seemed hopeless. This was punishment for the disobedience of His people - which they had been warned about (see Isaiah).

Again, God shows He is in control in verses 8 - 9 when Daniel asks for permission not to eat the royal food and wine. Verse 9 says, "Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel." God is still guiding events to work out according to His ultimate plan.

Daniel and his friends were healthier eating vegetables and water than those who were eating the royal food. God takes care of our bodies and our spiritual well-being. He allowed Daniel the opportunity to eat food that was good for him.

God again showed His sovereignty in the successes of Daniel and his friends. "In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom" (v. 20). Even in His people's captivity, God shows He is in control and is far superior to any other "god".