Today I read Daniel 1, where Daniel and his friends were tested concerning what they ate and God blessed them in wisdom and understanding. God blesses his children that are loyal to him.
Tested and Blessed
God allowed Babylon to capture the children of Israel and take them to Babylon, but bestowed favor on those loyal to God (Daniel 1:1-21). King Nebuchadnezzar instructed the leader of his eunuchs to find smart beautiful children of Israel to nurture for three years and teach them the Chaldeans language. Daniel Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among those chosen from the children of Judah and renamed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel did not want to sin by consuming the king’s meat and wine. Daniel was already favored by the leader over them and thus the leader allowed Daniel and his friends to only eat fruit, vegetables and water for 10 days to see how they would look. They looked better than the other children. God blessed them in wisdom and understanding and gave Daniel understanding in dreams and visions. The king tested them at the end of the three years and found them 10 times wiser than anyone in his realm.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God blesses his children when they are loyal to God even when it requires going against the normal. The king was feeding the children what was considered normal, good food in Babylon. The four children of Judah knew that they were not to eat meat sacrificed to other gods or drink wine. They had to ask to go against what was considered normal and good in Babylon to be loyal to God. God blessed them.
What have you done that was not considered normal but was what God wanted you to do and God blessed you?