When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. – Daniel 2:14-19 (NLT)
Strangely, Daniel and his friends were not present when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded answers to his dreams from the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers. Perhaps it’s because these “wise men” despised them as youngsters and strangers and would not have them as equals in knowledge and understanding.
It’s even stranger that the king did not demand to see Daniel and his friends knowing what the king said about them. “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.” Daniel 1:20 (NKJV)
When Daniel learnt about the king’s decree, the Bible said, “Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.” He asked the king for more time and went home to pray with his friends, soliciting their help in corporate prayer.
There is a lesson for us here. Waiting on the LORD is not an inactive, passive state of mind. The essence of waiting is exercising confident trust and faith in the nature and character of God and His promises. Waiting to hear from the Lord is futile if we do not truly trust Him as the rock of our faith, refuge, strength, and salvation.
Some Christians have the gift of “word of knowledge”. This is when the Spirit of God reveals some truth about an individual. Delivering a word of knowledge is not predicated on having a close relationship with the person. It’s not even when we’re privileged to some information or knowledge about an individual. The assurance and genuineness of a word of knowledge can only be revealed when we spend time in the presence of God, in the place of prayer.
Daniel realised that if he and his friends would escape the king’s penalty, he’d have to connect to the God who controls times and seasons.
When we are faced with a new challenge, we initially panic and totally forget what God had done for us in the past. We don’t often remind ourselves that He is the same God who showed up in times past when we needed Him.
Reminding ourselves of past testimonies is setting the stage for greater testimonies. Anxiety and fear will take backstage once we remember all that God has done for us in the past. He will show up again and fill your mouth with shouts of joy and praise just as He did for Daniel:
“Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said, ‘Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.’” Daniel 2:20-23 (NLT)
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 