The Difficult Path {#Write31Days}

The story of Daniel in Daniel 6 tells of a young captive in Babylon that had been appointed as one of three administrators over satraps for King Darius.  Daniel’s walk with God won him favor with the king, but Daniel also gained enemies among his peers and subordinates.

Daniel’s peers became jealous because the king planned to give Daniel power over the whole kingdom.  The others began to look for fault in Daniel, but could find none.  Instead they plotted to catch Daniel in the one thing they knew to be uncompromising – Daniel’s walk with God.  The other administrators and satraps then went to the king saying:

“Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” Daniel 6:6-8

It was a lie, because Daniel would have been included in the “all.” They knew Daniel would always put his relationship with God first.  Still they took it to the king, and the king granted their request.

Daniel found out about the law, but he went about his “usual” routine.  He went to his house and he prayed to God just as he always did.  His peers were waiting to catch Daniel in their trap.  They immediately went to the king to have Daniel thrown in the lion’s den.

The king was beside himself, as even in all his power, the king could not undo what had been written into law.  He tried to find a way out.  Ultimately the trouble making peers pushed the king’s hand to follow the law immediately.  The king had Daniel thrown into the lion’s den.  Leaving Daniel with the words “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”  Then the king spent the evening fasting and couldn’t sleep.

The next day the king goes out to check on Daniel.  The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.  The chapter ends with a great proclamation

Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:

“Peace and prosperity to you!

 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

For he is the living God,
    and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
    and his rule will never end.
 He rescues and saves his people;
    he performs miraculous signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel 6:25-28.

Daniel chose before the decree was made what kind of life he was going to live.  Daniel’s decision led him down the path where people would take notice of his actions.  Some felt threatened by Daniel’s walk.  Others, like the king were impressed and inspired.  Daniel trusted God to lead him, regardless of where the journey might take him – even to death.  A nation was pointed to the One True God by a captured servant who trusted completely.

We may never face a lion’s den outside of the zoo, yet each day we have the choice to trust God with our whole heart, soul, and spirit.  That choice will not only impact who we become but it will impact those who we come in contact with daily.  People are watching, whether we want them to or not.  When we walk daily with God, people can tell.  We never know who is going to be impacted by our daily decision to trust God moment by moment.

If the choice is not made before the test comes, we will succumb to the easy path.  If we don’t trust God with the individual steps, we will not journey down the path that requires greater dependence.  Our journey is unknown, but if we trust God no path will be too difficult.

 

This blog is part of a #Write31Days series on trust.  31 Days is an online writing challenge, where bloggers pick one topic and write a post on that topic every day in October.