The One With Daniel and His Bros

King Nebuchadnezzar only picked the best of the best. He selected "Strong, healthy, and good-looking young men." (Daniel 1:4) He picked the cream of the crop. Four of the men chosen by him were God-fearing, God-loving, men who enthusiastically followed God. Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego). These guys were also super smart. Daniel had a gift of interpreting the meanings of visions and dreams. The four God-loving dudes were favored by King Nebs. They even got to enter his royal service. King Nebs soon discovered these guys were ten times more capable of giving wisdom and balanced judgment than the magicians and enchanters. This makes total sense since their wisdom came directly from God. God's wisdom is always reliable and better than the world's. (Daniel 1)

King Nebs had a troubling dream and none of the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, or astrologers could tell the King what it meant. He got angry and ordered that all the wise men should be executed. A great example of why it's not good to make big decisions when you are really emotional. When Daniel heard of the news, he asked King Nebs for just a little more time. He and his three God-loving friends prayed and God showed Daniel the dream and what it meant. Daniel made sure to tell King Nebs that only God could reveal secrets so he would know the answer he was seeking came from God and no one else. Integrity and humility makes all the difference in life. Daniel was great about giving praise to the proper place - God and God alone. After Daniel was able to tell King Nebs his dream and what it meant, he was super happy and rewarded Daniel and his team of bros with higher positions and gifts. (Daniel 2)

King Nebs made a ginormous gold statue and made a rule that everyone had to worship it. Anyone who didn't obey the rule would be thrown into a blazing hot furnace. Some of the astrologers tattled on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and told King Nebs they were not obeying the new order. King Nebs got a bit angry and asked them if it was indeed true they were disobeying his orders. They told him they didn't need to defend themselves to him, they will only worship God and nothing else. They told him that if they were going to be thrown into a piping hot furnace, God is able to save them. They added that even if He doesn't, they would never serve the King's gods or worship gold statues. I love this. They were confident in who God was, what He was ABLE to do, and EVEN IF He didn't do what they knew He was able to do, they would never serve any other god other than the true God. King Nebs got so mad his face changed and become all angry-like and he ordered the furnace be turned up seven times hotter. They tied up the fancily dressed three amigos and tossed them in to be barbequed. The flames were so hot that the soldiers doing the body tossing were killed as they were throwing them in. King Nebs was watching intently and suddenly saw FOUR men, untied and walking around the fire. God joined them in the flames. Sometimes when we think we are battling the flames of life all alone, never forget that God is right with us AND our ties and shackles that bind us up in life might just be getting burned off in the process so we can be set free. King Nebs yelled to them and told them to get on out of there! When they stepped out of the fire, not a single hair on their heads was harmed and all their fancy clothes were still intact. They didn't even smell like smoke! Seeing this miracle made King Nebs so impressed that he made a new rule that no one would be allowed to say a single word against God. He was so impressed by how God saved them that he even promoted the three bros to higher positions in his kingdom. Obedience to God changes things for the better. God's plans are always bigger than our own. (Daniel 3)

King Nebs had another dream and Daniel was again able to tell him what it meant. This dream meant that King Nebs was being given a warning to stop sinning and do what is right and be merciful to the poor or he would lose his kingdom, his sanity, and live in the fields for seven years. Once King Nebs realizes that God truly rules, he would get his kingdom back again. A year later, a voice called down from Heaven telling him the exact same thing. During that same hour, it actually happened. God does what He says He'll do. He was driven from society, lost his sanity, and lived in fields eating grass like the cows. God stripped him of his arrogance and humbled him. After seven years passed, King Nebs got his sanity back and began to praise and worship God. He was restored to his kingdom and was honored even more than before. God's plans for our lives are always better than our own. (Daniel 5)

Lots of years later, after King Nebs reign, King Belshazzar was having a good ole' party and brought out the silver and gold cups from the Temple in Jerusalem. All the sudden a human hand started writing on the plaster wall of the palace! I can't imagine what it was like seeing that! King Bels passed out in shock. No kidding. He called for his enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to tell him what the words meant. They had no idea. Daniel was brought in once again and was able to tell him that his days were numbered because he was praising material gods instead of honoring God. Daniel was rewarded and King Bels was killed that same night. God does what He says He'll do every time. (Daniel 5)

Darius took over next. He stepped in, divided the kingdom, and chose Daniel and a couple other guys to supervise the high officers and protect the interest of the king. King Dari favored Daniel and the other two guys got all jealous. They couldn't find anything wrong to get Daniel in trouble so they went and told King Dari that everyone wanted him to make a new law that wouldn't allow anyone to pray to anyone other than King Dari for 30 days or they'd be throne into a den of lions. They knew Daniel's faith and that he would still pray to God so this was a trap they were trying to set for him. Daniel did continue to pray three times a day regardless of this new rule. Officials popped in to check on Daniel and found him praying and went and tattled to King Dari. King Dari really digged Daniel and tried to think of a way to save him. He couldn't think of anything so that night, Daniel was arrested and thrown into the den. King Dari was so upset that night that he couldn't eat or sleep. When morning finally popped up, he hustled over to the den and called out to Daniel asking if God was able to rescue him from the lions. Daniel answered that yes, indeed, God did save him! King Dari was so excited! Daniel didn't even have a scratch on him because he trusted God. If we keep our faith and trust in God and God alone, He will always see us through even the most tense situations. They may not go exactly how we think they will, but God sees the bigger picture. God knows best. Then he ordered the two guys who were being all sneaky and mean to Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den along with their wives and children. The lions tore them all apart before they even hit the floor of the den. King Dari made a new rule that God is awesome and will always rule and He rescues and saves His people so all the kingdom should tremble with reverence and fear before God. Daniel stood on confidence of his faith in God and refused to waver. His faith, trust, and humility brought incredible changes to the kingdom for everyone. (Daniel 6)