Far From Home

Far from Home

Q: Another name Daniel was called was

• a. Nebuchadnezzar.
• b. Belteshazzar.
• c. Meshach.

When Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon, he seized Jerusalem and took captives back to Babylon, including Daniel. Once in Babylon, Daniel was soon noticed for his intelligence and wisdom. He and three friends were chosen to serve in the palace, so they were trained and educated for three years.

The young men were in privileged positions and even allowed to eat the king’s food. Daniel, given the Babylonian name Belteshazzar, and his friends didn’t want to eat the food. It may have been considered unclean by Jewish law or offered to pagan idols. Or maybe the young men didn’t want to depend on the king for food. Daniel asked that he and his friends be allowed to have only vegetables and water instead. The official agreed to a 10-day trial period.

At the end of the 10 days, Daniel and his friends were healthier and stronger than the young men who ate the king’s food. And at the end of the three years of education and training, Daniel and his friends were found to be 10 times wiser than all the others.

Daniel was far from home, but he determined to do what was right and to honor God in his choices. In return, God blessed him and made him successful. This gave Daniel a chance to make a difference for God.

For You

Daniel purposed in his heart to do what was right even though many times no one would know the difference. Because of Daniel’s determination to serve God, the Lord was able to use him to be an example to others and to accomplish good things. Do you determine to do right even if no one else would know? If not, choose to be like Daniel today, and serve God in everything you do.

Answer: b

The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.   Daniel 1:7

(The Whole Story: Daniel 1)