He Had to Get it From Somewhere

I really enjoy reading through the book of Daniel. It’s not just because it’s my namesake! Daniel is one of those books that really makes me think about things like, “How would I have reacted if I had been in his place?” and, “Where did he find the courage to do that?”
I think one of the most powerful verses of the book is from Chapter 1:

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
(Daniel 1:8 NKJV)

You really could stop reading after the first 12 words. Did you notice what Daniel did? He purposed in his heart. His mind was set firmly on the fact that he just wasn’t going to defile himself. But where did that resolute nature come from?

When we look at Daniel’s character (which was well known during his time for being stellar, read Ezekiel 14:14, 20) we see that throughout his life he had a deep and abiding trust in God. Notice what he did in Chapter 2 when possibly facing death simply because he was a “wise man”:

“So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them… Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
(Daniel 2:13, 17-18 NKJV)

Again, I can’t help but think that the decision to trust and obey God didn’t just materialize from nowhere. Daniel was taught this. Remember that Daniel was a young man when he was taken captive to Babylon (Daniel 1:3-5). His decisions weren’t based upon life experiences. He had to have learned this behavior from somewhere.

Allow me to suggest to you a possibility: his parents. There are several places where we read of direction being given to parents concerning telling their children about God and his commands. For instance, Deuteronomy 6:

"When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD our God has commanded you?' then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the LORD showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.'
(Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NKJV)

I can almost imagine Daniel’s parents indulging a curious son’s questions about the “why’s” and “how’s” of the Law of Moses. What do you say when your children ask questions about God? Or ask yourself this: Do my children know enough about the Bible and God to even begin to ask questions?

Too often the responsibility of bestowing Bible knowledge is laid solely upon the shoulders of Sunday School teachers. I fear that a generation could be lost simply because of a lack of knowledge of God (cf. Hosea 4:6). It ought not be so! Parents, are you up to the challenge?

~Daniel Howell