In God's Hands: Daniel 6:10-13

Daniel’s fate rests in the hands of God.  That’s a wonderful, albeit difficult, place to reside.  God is our creator; He can do anything.  Who better to control our fate?  At the same time, though, we often like to control our own destiny.  We like to ensure the outcome is favorable.  Our fate is best in the hands of God, but we’re not always content letting God be in control of our fate.

Daniel hears about the king’s order and does what any person who has a close relationship with God would do.  Daniel goes to his house and prays.  He gives the problem to God.

Daniel didn’t have to do this.  Daniel could have left Babylon and prayed outside the area of effect for Darius’ edict.  While making for a much weaker story, that would have allowed Daniel to continue to obey the king’s edict and continue in his relationship with God.  Daniel could have shut up his windows and prayed quietly so nobody would have known his prayer.  While there is absolutely nothing wrong with praying in solitude, if Daniel’s habit was to pray with his windows open in the direction of Jerusalem his actions would have demonstrated cowardice and only inspired his opponents against him.

Daniel continues in his tradition.  It was his relationship with God and his reliability in worship that got Daniel in this predicament, there was no reason to change anything now.  Daniel trusted God and he would put the outcome of this situation in God’s hands.

I love what Daniel demonstrates in this passage.  Daniel’s life is shaped by his relationship with God.  The converse of this statement is not true.  Daniel’s relationship with God is not shaped by his life.

Some people pray more when life is bad and forget God when life is good.  Some people pray more when they need something and less when they have all they want.  These people have a relationship with God that is shaped by their life.  Daniel’s life, however, is shaped by his relationship with God.  Daniel is constant in his relationship with God, and his life is affected by that reality.

The satraps know Daniel’s relationship with God is reliable.  They see him praying to God.  They come as a group and go to the king as a group.  They would all verify the truth of Daniel’s action.

How easily people gather to accomplish evil.  Human beings love juicy gossip.  Human beings enjoy watching their opponents get what they think their opponents deserve.  Human beings enjoy mischief.  These attributes intensify as the size of the crowd increases.  People who are up to no good don’t typically struggle to find others who willingly join the act.

The king hears the accusation and affirms the edict cannot be repealed.  What is done is done.  The satraps pounce on the opportunity and announce Daniel’s action.  Daniel is exactly where he wants to be.  Daniel’s fate rests in the hands of God.