Impressive Faith: Daniel 2:17-18

God’s people are inherently followers.  That doesn’t mean we aren’t leaders.  We lead after God opens a door.  Each of our opportunities to lead, though, start with taking the humble position of looking to follow God.

After Daniel makes an appointment with Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel goes back to his friends and asks them to inquire from God.  Stop and think about this fact for a second.  After Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar he has the answer, Daniel goes to his friends to inquire of God.  When Daniel made the appointment with Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel had no inclination about the dream or the interpretation.

This is astounding.  Daniel tells the king he can answer his inquiry before he knows the answer.  This is faith.  This is understanding the power of God.  This is leaning on God and knowing He has your life in His hands.  Daniel knows His God and lives like nothing is impossible for Him.

Daniel’s faith is impressive.  Remember Daniel’s context, however.  Daniel was told he was going to die.  He was told his friends were going to die.  Nebuchadnezzar issued an edict saying that if the wise men of his land were unable to meet his challenge, they weren’t worth following.  Nebuchadnezzar backs Daniel into a corner.  Daniel has a choice to either accept his fate or come out swinging.

Daniel chooses to come out swinging.  What does he have to lose?  He’s already a marked man.  He’s already living on borrowed time.  Daniel leans into God because He knows God is his only option left.

Daniel knows something about 600 years prior to the rest of God’s people figuring it out.  Salvation comes from God alone.  There was nobody who could save Daniel and his friends apart from God.

What an incredible lesson to learn.  Daniel has incredible faith, there can be no arguing this fact.  Daniel’s faith comes on strong; without God His life will soon be over.

Daniel is primed and ready to see the door God opens for him.  Through Nebuchadnezzar’s death edict, God made the door massively obvious for Daniel.  God places Daniel in a situation where his only option is to walk through the door.  The only way for Daniel’s life to continue is to meet Nebuchadnezzar’s challenge.  The only way for Daniel’s life to continue is for him to step into the opportunity God made ready.

There are so many reasons to see Daniel as an exemplar in the faith.  Daniel met the challenge of the world no matter how impossible the task.  Daniel look death in the face and knew only His God saves.  In stepping up to meet the challenge, Daniel opens himself to God using him to make God’s omnipotence known.  As Daniel steps up to follow God, he also reveals salvation to the rest of the wise men.  Each of these things are possible because Daniel was willing to follow God, not lead God.  God’s people are inherently followers.