Journey with Daniel

Journey with Daniel

1/27/15 – Greetings HEBC fellowship and all those who wish to participate.

I am excited that we have all agreed to take this journey together through the book of Daniel. I am certain that the life of Daniel will be inspiring.

Today is day two (2) of our reading. However, we will cover day one (Chapter 1-2) in today’s blog. Remember to read at least two chapters per day to ensure we complete the book by this Sunday.

First, some stats about Daniel: he was from Judah but not much is known about his parents. It is widely believed that he was of royal lineage (Dan 1:3). He was very young, possibly in his teens when he was captured and taken captive to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon who invaded and sacked Judah (look at your maps).
Daniel and three other young men (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) were chosen to serve in the King’s palace. What many don’t realize is that these young men, possibly in their teenage years, were made eunuchs, (eunuchs are men whose manhood have been taken away – They were castrated) – how sad. Their lives were forever changed.

There are some theologians who are not sure about this, while others are certain of this fact. I personally believe these young men were emasculated based on the prophet Isaiah’s prophesy in 2 Kings 20:18; Also, based on Dan 1:3 where Daniel and his companion’s care were entrusted to Ashpenaz, chief of eunuchs.

Eunuchs were very common in pagan cultures during Biblical time but not in the Hebrew culture. The Jews regarded this as barbaric; And God had given very specific and stringent laws regarding this practice (Deut 23:1).

How do you think these young men must have felt after they had undergone this procedure?

What is most remarkable, that we must note, is that in spite of this calamity that befell them, witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem, being captured and taken away from their homeland, taken to a foreign land, mutilated, and held captive to serve a foreign King; Nonetheless, Daniel and his companion’s faith in their God remained unshaken. They had endured what most would have considered a destruction of their lives. Yet their faith in their God remained strong. That is Faith!!!

In 21^st century America, none of us will ever experience what Daniel lived through. We will most likely never live through such carnage. Thank God. But we do face daily challenges to our faith. Problems, difficulties that can make us question whether God is still with us. We must remember that the challenges we face in life is not indicative of whether God is still present in our lives. He remains always faithful.  Always present; just as He promised.

God was faithful to Daniel and his companions and He will remain faithful to you.

What are your thoughts…?