# 200: Ten Times Better

Daniel lived about 600 years before Jesus was born and 400 years after King David established the Kingdom of Israel and the King of the Chaldeans invaded Jerusalem. Israel had sinned against God and had become vulnerable to its surrounding enemies. This Chaldean King had a plan. He directed his administrators to choose ‘the best of the best’ from the Jews left behind in Jerusalem after the attack, bring young Jewish people to Babylon, and train them in the way of the Babylonians. They were to learn Babylonian customs and become familiar with Babylonian gods, traditions, and lifestyles. Then, once their hearts had turned from the God of the Jews to the Babylonian gods, they were to be sent back to Jerusalem with new Babylonian names, married to Babylonian wives to repopulate and rule Jerusalem as a ‘colony’ of Babylon. The entire strategy was to ‘dilute’ the Jewish faith and people.

Daniel was one of the young men chosen. So right away we know that he stood out among the majority of Jews living in Jerusalem at the time. Certainly, the Babylonian rulers considered Daniel a prime candidate for their strategy. But those rulers underestimated Daniel’s spirit. They underestimated the strength of his identity with his God.

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Daniel 1:17-21

Daniel and his friends stood out among the others. In every area of wisdom and understanding, Daniel and his friends were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. As for the king’s other advisors, they had been humiliated by his assessment. How dare he compare them to these young adolescent boys from a barbaric nation?

This was not an easy height to attain; behind Daniel’s skills and competencies we learn that Daniel was known as “a man with an excellent spirit”. 

“The queen spoke, saying...’There is a man in our kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God...inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel...’ 

Daniel 5:10-12.

How was Daniel’s spirit changed to mirror God’s? What can we learn from Daniel’s walk with God? It’s amazing! How did Daniel grow in character and in his relationship with God? Here are inklings that Daniel left behind for us as we commit to…

1. Identify with God 

The first thing Daniel did was he made a ‘no compromise’ decision to identify with God in all things

“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank...” (Dan.1:8). 

Daniel was not ambivalent in his commitment to identify with God. Ambivalence opens the door for temptation and gives our enemies an opportunity to influence our lives. It robs us of our confidence. That’s why it’s absolutely necessary to make a once-for-all decision to identify with Jesus if we want to develop an excellent spirit! 

2. Be prayerful

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Daniel 6:10

Daniel was a prayerful man. A major backing for the excellence he carried. It was stated that he prayed and gave thanks before the Lord as he did aforetime. This was therefore part of his daily routines and no wonder he excelled. We find this a great lesson for us today. Being a prayerful Christian will make us powerful Christians who will stand out for Christ in everything we do. 

3. Trust God always  

Quite often God’s ways aren’t part of our agenda. His ways seem mysterious at times. But we have to commit our hearts to follow Him where He leads and TRUST His love for us. How can we know if we are truly trusting God during difficult times? In this difficult time in captivity, Daniel did not lose his faith in God but instead stood out for God and obtained favour. 

“Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials” (Dan.1:9). “...he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself” (Dan.1:8b).

ACTION POINT 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6