King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem. Not only did he kill people, but he robbed the temple and put the real God’s things in the temple of a fake god in Babylon. But that wasn’t enough for him.
“The king told Ashpenaz, the chief-of-staff, to bring some of the Israelites, the royal family, and the nobility. They were to be young men who were healthy, good-looking, knowledgeable in all subjects, well-informed, intelligent, and able to serve in the king’s palace. They were to be taught the language and literature of the Babylonians” (Daniel 1:3,4).
These weren’t just any random kids. They had to be the smartest in the class, the strongest, the ones willing to work hard, and they had to come from rich families. These were kids who had it all, until Nebuchadnezzar took them from their homes.
Daniel was one of the captives, along with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Even though Daniel was offered the royal food, he knew that it was first offered up to false gods. He wouldn’t go against his God’s commands, even though the food was incredibly yummy. Instead, he asked for water and vegetables. (Can you even imagine?)
God saw their faithfulness and “gave these four men knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to understand all kinds of literature. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams” (verse 17).
You will never be taken captive and carted off to be a servant in Babylon, but that doesn’t mean you and Daniel have nothing in common. You know that no matter what you face, God will give you the wisdom to handle it—and to give him all the glory. Daniel—a kid who stayed faithful to God even when it was hard—was God’s child, just like you are.
