Nougat 10

Our reflections so far …

Four migrants, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (taken by force and conscripted into royal service), have been partially acculturized. The process was to have included learning the language, a name, and diet change. While there’s no actual record of them learning Babylonian, it is implied. But the young men say ‘No’ to eating the food of the land.

They feel comfortable saying ‘No’ because of the favour given them by God. However, this wasn’t just random favour with authority. It was to keep them unveiled and to preserve their spiritual life. Despite the initial favour toward them, their ally resists, for fear of the king.

This is where we join the reflections. How do we respond when faced by resistance about that which YHWH promised? What do we do when favour seems to be disappearing? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Daniel 1:11-13 ASV

[11] Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: [12] Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

[13] Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king’s dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

Put to the Test

The saying is, ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating …’, but for Daniel and his team, the proof wasn’t in the pudding. It was in eating something else entirely! The young Hebrews still refused to eat the foods of Babylonian. To strengthen their point, they opted to be put to the test.

I suspect that this test would have been a secret initially, for if it failed, the chief eunuch’s steward, perhaps even the eunuch, would be punished. It reminds me of Y’shua’s promise that when we pray in secret, we will be rewarded openly. For I do not hold that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah just faced the eunuch without having prayed. It is their prayer life that would have confirmed that they were within God’s will. It would have been prayer (and fasting perhaps) that would have given them the courage to speak.

[Permit me to digress a bit to note that it was the youth who maintained the spiritual disciplines and practices, not the elders, priests, or leadership. We often act as though our youth can’t grasp the nuances of the faith or have limited interest in things spiritual; but there they were, defending the practice of their faith.]

Armed with the confidence often found only in youth, they proposed the test. That is, they would eat only pulse and water for 10 days (enough time to see if their proposal carried merit or to quickly resuscitate them). I propose that this test would also become a point of evangelism. If God permitted the Hebrews to survive, it would be a very good point for them from which to share about their faith.

What about us siblings? Do we see tests, such as those proposed by the youth, as opportunities to witness to others about God’s grace in our lives? Or are we caught up in fear? I admit that sometimes my eyes are fixed on the wrong priority, and the opportunity is missed. Perhaps the next time we feel that we’re being put to the test, we will stand for Christ.

Lord, help us stand and be counted for You.

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May all we seek be found in Christ