THE HANDLING OF A CRISIS "Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon." -- Tomorrow:
"And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Daniel 2:13-18)
Devotion 7 of 28
We are not told how long the executioners searched for Daniel. It may not have been long, for there is no evidence that Daniel and his friends were hiding themselves. The point of the text is not that a search was made for Daniel, but how this man of faith would respond when he was found. The God who orchestrated these circumstances will equip His servants to respond properly to them. Like David, their times were in the hand of God, not the hand of Nebuchadnezzar: "My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me" (Psa 31:15).
ANSWERING WITH COUNSEL AND WISDOM
"Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom . . . " Other versions read "with discretion and discernment" (NASB), "wisdom and tact" (NIV), "prudence and discretion" (NRSV) "wisdom and good sense" (BBE), and "with shrewd and cautious words" (NJB).
Even though Daniel was facing a man who had come to take his life, he still maintained composure of both spirit and mind. Danger can cause good sense and wisdom to run from the fearful. But this was not the case with Daniel. This reveals a valuable aspect of faith. It settles the heart and mind, enabling the believer to face a crisis without falling apart or speaking rashly. This is because faith knows WHO is really in control of the circumstances. One cannot shake before men while trusting in "the Mighty God" (Jer 32:18). In Daniel we are NOT beholding a national hero, but a man who believes and trusts in the Living God.
ANSWERING
What was it that Daniel was "answering?" Perhaps the executioner had asked if he was, indeed, Daniel. He might also have given a brief summation of the edict under which he was operating. At any rate, there was some form of Babylonian protocol that was intended to precede the execution. From a higher vantage point, however, this was a small door of opportunity through which faith could enter, and Daniel seized upon the moment.
We learn from this that there are levels in circumstance. What appears to be only danger, can actually contain an opportunity. Scripture puts it this way: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor 10:13). Allow me to review this text with God's promise in mind. I do this because the text is lived out in incident we are considering.
"TAKEN YOU." Here is a temptation, or trial, that has taken hold of Daniel. From all appearance, it looks as though he is inferior to it, and is nothing but a victim in its grasp. That is precisely what temptation does – it "takes" you, laying hold on you in a way that requires you to engage all of your resources to stand against it.
"COMMON." This circumstance was not unique to Daniel and his friends. It had fallen upon all of the wise men of Babylon. Nor, indeed, was it uncommon in past history. Elijah had faced the wrath of Jezebel (1 Kgs 19:1-2). Jeremiah was suddenly seized and thrown into a miserable pit (Jer 38:6). God's people are not to consider is a "strange thing" when they are taken by all manner of temptations (1 Pet 4:12).
GOD IS FAITHFUL. The king who had been impressed with the wisdom and understanding of Daniel and his colleagues were not faithful. Now, he had issued an edict AGAINST them, instead of FOR them. Yet, because God was "faithful," He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13). Daniel could stand, and he knew it.
NOT SUFFER. Whether before the Old Covenant, during it, or in the New Covenant, God has always operated in this manner: He has not permitted trials to exceed the ability of His people. I do not know that Daniel was as conversant with this truth as those who are in Christ Jesus. However, his heart was embracing the truth, even though its fulness may not have been grasped by him. This is something that faith knows, even if the mind is not fully aware of it. It is possible to live with the perspective of faith. God manages our temptations!
MAKE A WAY. Trials pass through the Divine court before they enter the arena of flesh and blood. When they arrive at the door of the believer, they come with a built-in escape hatch. It is one that faith can detect, if not precisely, yet in principle. Faith does not look at the temptation, but looks for the "way to escape." As the execution stands before him, Daniel does not see a hopeless situation, but a door of opportunity, and he enters into it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to properly assess my temptations and trials, and be quick to see the door you make, and send with them.