There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Daniel 2:28.CC 251.1
Daniel sought the Lord when the decree went forth to slay all the wise men of the kingdom of Babylon because they could not relate or interpret a dream which had gone from the king’s mind. Nebuchadnezzar demanded not only the interpretation of the dream, but the relation of the dream itself…. They declared that the request of the king was… beyond that which had ever been required of any man. The king became furious, and acted like all men who have great power and uncontrollable passions. He decided that every one of them should be put to death, and as Daniel and his fellows were numbered with the wise men, they also were to share this fate.2Sons and Daughters of God, 216.CC 251.2
Daniel was imbued with the spirit of Jesus Christ, and he pleaded that the wise men of Babylon should not be destroyed. The followers of Christ do not possess the attributes of Satan, which make it a pleasure to grieve and afflict the creatures of God. They have the spirit of their Master who said, “I am come to seek and to save that which was lost. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Had Daniel possessed the same quality of religious zeal which is so quickly inflamed today in the churches, and men are led by it to afflict and oppress and destroy those who do not serve God after their prescribed plan, he would have said to Arioch, “These men who claim to be wise men, are deceiving the king. They have not the knowledge they claim to have, and should be destroyed. They dishonor the God of heaven, they serve idols, and their lives in no way do honor to God; let them die; but bring me in before the king and I will show unto the king the interpretation.” CC 251.3
The transforming grace of God was made manifest in His servant, and he pleaded most earnestly for the lives of the very men who afterwards, in a secret, underhanded manner made plans by which they thought to put an end to the life of Daniel. These men became jealous of Daniel because he found favor with kings and nobles, and was honored as the greatest man in Babylon.
Conflict and Courage p. 251
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Prayer Requests
—–D has a job possibility that would be more in line with his education. Please pray that if it is God’s will that he will get it. L
—–I will see a cardiologist this morning. Pray that I get great results stating that I have no heart problems. La Vonta
—–Please pray for a friend who feels called to help at a local mission but is being advised against it by church members. Pray that she will make the right decision. Rose
—–please pray for the judge who will be making another decision today which would get my daughter back in the SDA school daily again. Her mom isn’t taking her to school and she’s very close to failing the grade. Thank you for your prayers! Jesse
—–Please need urgent special prayer for my youngest son. This morning he went to go buy some propane and when he tried to lift the tank into the back of the car his lower back made a loud cracking sound and he is in extreme pain and don’t think he can walk. He thinks he broke his back. The ambulance is coming to our place right now. Connie
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Dear Friends,
Many years ago, I heard the story of a widow who had only one child, a son. When the boy was about seven, he became very ill. This mother prayed and prayed day after day for her boy to be healed. Instead of getting better, he grew steadily worse. Instead of submitting to God’s will, she demanded God to heal her boy. She would not take “no” for an answer.
God did heal that little boy at her insistence, but it would have been better if he had not lived. What sorrow filled that mother’s heart as she watched that little boy, who had been so sweet, grow up to become a hardened criminal who murdered many, many people.
Sometimes, because of His great love for us, the All Knowing One does not give us what we pray for. He knows what would happen if He gave us exactly what we ask for. He knows what is best for us. Sometimes the best answer to our prayer is “No:” sometimes it is “Wait awhile” or “Here is something better.” When that happens, do we get angry with the One Who gave His life for us? How often we get frustrated because we do not receive what we desire never realizing that if we could see the end from the beginning, it would be exactly what we would choose.
Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave His only Son for us. He loves us “with an everlasting love” and guides us and works with us in order to save us. He assures us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jer 29:11 David advises, “Trust in the LORD, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:” Ps 37:3-7
Let us “rest in the Lord and wait patiently” for His answer trusting that He will do what is best for us. Let us “fear … not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” Ex 14:13 Let us place our weak and trembling hand in His strong and mighty hand and allow Him to lead us all the way to His Heavenly Kingdom.
Rose