Athletes have to go through strenuous exercise and weight training to become stronger and develop stamina for their sport. The Lord does similar training with us to prepare us for the purpose and the assignment coming ahead. We can’t shy away from tough and uncomfortable situations if we desire to fully embrace everything God has for us.
Daniel through satraps’ envy (Daniel 1-6)
“Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.” Daniel 5:12
Daniel was in the king’s quarters because Israelites were under the Persian Empire captivity; Daniel was brought to the palace to serve the king. Being at the palace wasn’t Daniel’s idea, nor was it a dream come true! On the other hand, the satraps were swarming around the king trying to secure their own positions before the king. Each had their own ideas of greatness, and they certainly did not want Daniel to be the most regarded by the king. When one has a spirit of excellence on them, only those who have the same spirit will appreciate it. On the other hand, it will make those who want to cut corners and be mediocre very uncomfortable because they don’t want to look bad!
While the satraps were trying to trap Daniel, he calmly minded his own business and stayed close to the Lord. The fact that Daniel was separated from his family, and the satraps and the governors were so jealous of his abilities must have kept him intimate with the Lord.
The closer we are to the Lord, the bolder and less fearful of man we are. Another factor that greatly helps in being bold is when individuals don’t have selfish ambition. Selfish ambition causes people to cave in to man’s opinion in order to get to their desired position/outcome. When one is free of selfish ambition like Daniel was, then there is no fear of reprisal from the king or anyone else. Daniel could be himself without fear of losing a future prospect.
The satraps manipulated the king into signing a decree for people to bring their petitions only to the king and no other. When Daniel heard this, he wasn’t planning to change his worship. Daniel was simply there out of an assignment from God. That kept things simple and clear. When the challenge came not to pray to God or go to the lion’s den, the answer was clear to Daniel. His boldness against the opposition and the man-made rules was admirable! He even kept his windows open while he was praying.
Daniel feared God more than the king or the lion. He stood for God, and God stood for Daniel! In turn the king realized that it was Daniel’s God who had protected him. What a great testimony of Daniel’s faith and His God! Daniel’s faith would have also allowed other Israelites to worship the true God without the fear of punishment.
It would have been great if the satraps were convicted by Daniel’s God when the Lord rescued him. Unfortunately, sometimes people’s hearts are so hardened that they are not willing to see the truth and be changed. If the satraps were accepting of Daniel and the environment was comfortable relationally, Daniel may have gotten relaxed and dulled with God’s purpose. Praise God for those satraps and the kings that kept Daniel on his knees praying as he always had! This gave him a strength and boldness that none of those other relationships could have given him.
A friend of mine confessed to me one day that if her husband were everything she wanted him to be, most likely she would not be walking with the Lord today. She would have just been happy and content with an easy marriage.
How is God training you right now? Are you allowing God to sharpen you through His method? Or are you fighting your way through it by despising the people or the circumstances surrounding you?
God is so much bigger than the difficult people or circumstances we encounter. If we stay focused on Him and not on the pain, we’ll be able to see the silver lining. Someday we will appreciate how God used those tough people/situations for His glory and our good.
For comments, please email me at Karlinefischer@yahoo.com.