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Daniel episode 1: From Israel to Babylon

Daniel and his friends obey God in a foreign land.
Contributed by David & Goliath (DG)
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, German
1
Over time, despite many warnings, the disobedience of the people of Israel brought God's anger. God decided to punish them by letting them be defeated by their enemies. While Daniel was living in Israel, the Lord allowed a powerful army led by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to invade their land. – Slide 1
2
Nebuchadnezzar and his army surrounded the city of Jerusalem. After they destroyed it, the army took the Israelites captive and set off with them back to Babylon. – Slide 2
3
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Ashpenaz, the chief commander at his court, to choose some young men of noble and royal descent from Israelite captives. As the young men were brought to Babylonia as slaves, they were unfamiliar with the language of the king and his people. The King planned to teach the young Jewish noblemen how to speak read and write the language of Babylonia and to raise them in his court so they would be prepared to serve him. – Slide 3
4
‘Make sure you choose the best of the young Jewish slaves’ the King ordered. ‘They must be healthy and strong but also smart. They should be able to learn new things quickly and be ready to serve me in my palace.’ – Slide 4
5
Ashpenaz fulfilled the King’s exact orders and chose the most worthy of the young Jews among the nobleman brought as slaves from Jerusalem. After three years of training, these young men had to appear before the king to be tested. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were among those chosen by Ashpenaz. These young men feared God and were faithful to Him in all they did. – Slide 5
6
When Ashpenaz called them to the dinner table for the first time, the four friends saw they were going to be given food from the King's table. This food and wine had already been offered to idols which by God’s laws made it unclean. What would they do? They were not at home but in a foreign land. No-one would notice if they disobeyed God. Would it matter? – Slide 6
7
Daniel and his three friends were determined not to disobey God. They knew God commanded them through Moses not to eat unclean food. So, Daniel stepped forward and told Ashpenaz, ‘It is wrong for us to eat the King’s meat and drink the King’s wine as it has been offered to your Babylonian gods. Please do not make us do this.’ – Slide 7
8
Ashpenaz was afraid that the king would get angry if the young men did not eat the food served at his table. He told Daniel, ‘I'm afraid if you do not eat the King’s food you will become weaker than those of the other young men. And this would put my life in danger. If you appear not as strong as the others, the King might kill me for not taking care of you.’ <br/>Daniel reassured Ashpenaz by telling him he had nothing to fear because God would take care of all their needs. Daniel asked, ‘Please allow us to eat only vegetables and drink clean water for ten days. Then look at us and see if we don't look as strong and healthy as the other young men. – Slide 8
9
For 10 days Ashpenaz fed them only water and vegetables instead of the King's wine and food. After 10 days he noticed that the four young Jews looked better than the others. They were stronger than all the young men who ate Nebuchadnezzar's food. – Slide 9
10
So, from then, Daniel and his friends ate the food they chose. God honoured Daniel and his friends for obeying the Lord's commands. He blessed them with knowledge, wisdom and an ability to quickly learn all kinds of new and important skills. – Slide 10
11
After three years King Nebuchadnezzar commanded, ‘I want all the young men who came from Jerusalem to be brought before me. I want to see for myself if they managed to learn anything during the time spent in my palace. – Slide 11
12
Daniel and his three friends, along with those who had eaten at the King’s table were brought before the King. – Slide 12
13
They were asked all sorts of difficult questions to test what they had learnt. – Slide 13
14
King Nebuchadnezzar found Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were ten times more capable than all the wise men in his Kingdom. – Slide 14
15
So, the king gave the four young men important positions as leaders in the Babylonian Empire. God had honoured Daniel and his friends for obeying Him. – Slide 15
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