Daniel's Training

Daniel 1:1-21

They tried to make him Babylonian. He stayed faithful at the dinner table.

Babylon has conquered Jerusalem and carried off its best young men — including Daniel and three friends. They're given Babylonian names, enrolled in Babylonian education, and offered food from the king's table. It's designed to erase their identity. Daniel draws a line — not at the language, not at the education, but at the food. He asks permission to eat only vegetables and water for ten days. If he and his friends look worse, they'll comply. After ten days, they look healthier than everyone eating the royal food. God gives them knowledge and understanding. Daniel can interpret dreams and visions. The quiet resistance at a dinner table becomes the foundation for everything that follows.

• Faithfulness
• Identity
• Courage
• Integrity