Reading: Daniel 2:11-15,17-18 NIV
[11] What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” [12] This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. [13] So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. [14] When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. [15] He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. [17] Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. [18] He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Thought for Reflection: An impossible situation? Even the astrologers realised it was hopeless because their “gods” don’t live among humans! Daniel is not without hope – he knows where power lies and so he comes before the God of heaven knowing he is not abandoned – as Jesus said hundreds of years later (and it still applies today) “I am with you always.” The astrologers were out of their depth because they did not know God who comes alongside and shares with us!
We will return to Daniel – having left him on a cliff edge!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to look in the right place for solutions today!
Leave a Reply