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Daniel and His Friend’s Faith in Action

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But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,

(Daniel 1:8~9)

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There once was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He was good at war.

Gradually this king occupied all of the countries around Babylon.

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God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to occupy Judah because Judah had sinned before God in worshipping to idols and not following God’s words.

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King Nebuchadnezzar took many people as prisoners from Judah to Babylon.

Among them young men of royal families were taken, too.

They were so sad in going to Babylon, because they didn't know when or if they would ever return back again.

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King Nebuchadnezzar ordered to choose the smartest young men among the prisoners for them to study in the king’s palace. The ones that were picked would have the privilege to eat the king's food and to study in the king's palace for three years. After finishing studying, the school would then guarantee them a position to serve the king.

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There were four especially faithful young men. They had received an education of God’s words and had been obeying it since childhood. They had decided not to do anything that would displease their God.

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One day, they were discussing something very seriously amongst themselves.

This discussion was about the forbidden food found in the Bible.

Some of the food had been sacrificed on an altar and then they had been given to the young men.

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The four friends decided not to eat the food forbidden that was talked about in the Bible. This decision was a very dangerous one because as prisoners they should be killed if they denied the King's food.

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The four friends believed that if they did what God desired, then God would help them. So they went to the chief official.

And Daniel said to him about their will,

"Please help us to keep our faith. We cannot have the royal food and wine."

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They might have been killed because of denying the royal food.

However, a surprising thing happened.

God moved the heart of the chief official and made him keep their faith.

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The chief official said to them, "I want to let you do as your ask, but I am afraid of the King. If the king sees that you look worse than the others; not having the given food, then the king will kill me. Because the king may think that I did not take care of you well."

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Daniel suggested one thing to the anxious chief official;

"Then, please test us for ten days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink. After ten days, come and check on us.

Do whatever you wish if our health has become weak."

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So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. For 10 days, Daniel and his three friends ate only vegetables and water while the others continued to eat the royal food.

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At the end of the ten days, the chief official compared Daniel and his three friends' appearance with that of the young men who ate the royal food.

Surprisingly, the four friends who ate only vegetables and drank water looked healthier and better than all of the others!

God saw their faith and made their appearance look bright.

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From then on the chief official let them drink water and eat only vegetables.

Eventually, they could keep their faith! After that, God made them more wise and better than all of the other young men.

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Daniel became one of the highest administrators in Babylon and his friends became government officials. When Daniel and the three friends did as God's words with faith, God made even prisoners succeed in Babylon.

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Sometimes even people believing in Jesus want to succeed but they do not keep God's law and study on Sunday. They neglect to read God's words and to pray to God. So, they do not know how to truly succeed.

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The key is to obey God's words with faith. Like this story, Daniel and his friends, even in the worst environment, God made them to be administrators. I hope that all of you find God's great success as a gift.