Grandad & Nanna's Bible Story - Chapter 12
At about age 15, Daniel had been taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, with 3 of his fellow royal princes Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
In Babylon they were given new names. Daniel (God is my judge) was called Belteshazzar (The Lord’s Leader).
Hananiah (God is gracious), was renamed Shadrach (Tender).
Mishael (Who is What God Is) was retitled Meshach (Agile)
Azariah (God is Keeper) was called Abednego (Servant of Light).
They were specially selected from the captives for being handsome and very smart or intelligent.
Nebuchadnezzar wanted them trained and properly educated, so they could be leaders in his Empire. (Daniel 1:3-4)
Daniel became Prime Minister and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, became Governors under him, over all the Province of Babylon. (Daniel 2:48-49)
“Do you remember our child, from our previous Chapter, how Daniel explained the dream Nebuchadnezzar had about the huge image? And how it had a head of gold, chest of silver, hips of brass and legs with feet and toes of iron and clay?” says Grandad.
Well, once Nebuchadnezzar was reminded of his dream, he had a big statue made of it, which was 90 feet high. Then he demanded everyone to worship this image of himself, which was coated in gold. (Daniel 3:1, Daniel 3:16-18)
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to this idol, Nebuchadnezzar was so mad with anger, that he had them thrown into a hot furnace. This was made 7 times hotter and was so hot that it burnt up the men who had bound them and thrown them into the deadly white hot furnace. (Daniel 3:22)
“But, do you know what happened then?” says Nanna. “The One who later became Jesus Christ, instantly entered the hot basin of the furnace and protected the 3 friends of Daniel. He untied their binding ropes and together the 4 of them walked around in the terribly hot flames as cool as cucumbers. Not even one of their hairs was singed by the ferocious flames.” (Daniel 3:25-27)
Nebuchadnezzar’s eyeballs almost popped with amazement. He was so startled by this incredible miracle, and recognised the true God as being the only God. Then he made a special law to protect Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and he promoted them to even better jobs of rulership in his Empire. (Daniel 3:28-30)
Years went by and Nebuchadnezzar died and his Kingdom symbolised by the golden head, was taken over by Darius the Mede, who’s Kingdom was symbolised by the chest of silver. (Daniel 2:38-39)
Daniel also became the Prime Minister for Darius, but many of the Governors who worked for King Darius were jealous of Daniel and plotted evil against Daniel. (Daniel 6:2-3)
King Darius worshipped false pagan idols like Ormuzd, and did not know the true God of our Father and God’s Son, who Daniel prayed to 3 times every day.
The Governors flattered Darius into making a law that people should only pray to him for 30 days or else be thrown into the den of lions. (Daniel 6:7-8)
Daniel continued to pray to God every day, as was his good habit. The Governors spied on him praying through his open window, and they told King Darius, who was very upset about Daniel having to be thrown into the lions’ den that very day. (Daniel 6:10)
Early the next morning Darius anxiously looked into the lions’ den expecting to see only Daniel’s bones. But to his great amazement, the lions had not eaten Daniel. God protected him. He had curled up with the lions to sleep warmly and comfortably for the night. (Daniel 6:18-19)
Daniel called out: “O King Darius, my God has sent His angel to shut the lions mouths.” (Daniel 6:22)
Darius the King was very happy and let Daniel out of the lions’ den. Then Darius ordered the bad Governors to be thrown to the hungry lions, and they quickly made short work of them. (Daniel 6:23-24)
Daniel loved God and kept God’s laws and Way of life. (Ezekiel 14:14) God loved and blessed Daniel, because he was a man of faithfulness to God (Hebrews 11:33-34). Daniel showed self-control (Daniel 1:8, Daniel 10:3), undaunted courage (Daniel 5:22-23), constant integrity (Daniel 6:4), unceasing in his prayers and loving relationship with God. (Daniel 2:17-18, Daniel 6:16) He had a repentant and humble spirit (Daniel 9:3-11)
“Do you think Daniel set us a very good example in how to love and follow God, our child?” says Grandad.
“Daniel read God’s word and he knew the prophecies of Jeremiah, about how his Jewish people would be held in captivity in Babylon, for 70 years and then would be allowed to go back to their homeland to rebuild Jerusalem and God’s Temple”, says Nanna. (Daniel 9:2)
“Yes Nanna, that is right”, says Grandad. “That was the very next thing to happen, just as God had promised and prophesied by Jeremiah, over 70 years before it happened.” (Jeremiah 25:11-12, Jeremiah 29:10)
“Even in the first year of King Darius rule, Daniel knew the amazing prophecies of Isaiah, who 150 years ago, had named Cyrus as the future King who would come and take Babylon. (Daniel 9:1-2) Isaiah also said the Jews would be released from captivity by Cyrus, to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple”, says Nanna. (Isaiah 44:28)
“Isn’t God great, our child, to be able to predict so many things, long before they happen, and to bring them to pass?” says Grandad. “Isaiah’s prophecy 150 years before, even described in detail how Cyrus would take Babylon, because the 2 huge gates above the river would be left open that night of his army’s stealthy attack. He also spoke of how God would make a way for his army through the other defence gates of brass.” (Isaiah 45:1-3) History records there were 100 of those brass gates.
Everything went exactly to God’s prophecies, by His prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Ezra wrote how the prophesied King Cyrus allowed the Jews to go back to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. (2 Chronicles 36:21-23, Ezra 1:1-2, Ezra 1:7-8, Ezra 3:7, Ezra 5:13-14, Ezra 6:3, Ezra 6:14)
God called brave and determined faithful men like Nehemiah, Ezra, Zerubbabel and Jeshua to lead their exiled fellow Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls and the 2nd Temple dedicated to God.
“Isn’t God so good to us?” says Nanna. “God always lets His people know what is going to happen in the future, so we don’t need to worry. He tells us in Amos 3:7: Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Well in the 1st year of Darius reign, God also revealed another wonderful prophecy to Daniel, called the “70 weeks prophecy”. (Daniel 9:24-27)
This amazing prophecy revealed to Daniel from God, showed that the Jews would finish the rebuilding of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem, within 49 years, from the decree of the future King Cyrus. Then it would be another 434 years to when the “Messiah” Jesus Christ would be begin His ministry. A total of 483 years.
God's prophecy showed how Jesus ministry of three and a half years would be “cut off” by His personal sacrifice of death, greater than all sacrifices ever made.
Jesus death for us paid the death penalty for all our sins as mankind, so that when we repent, we can be forgiven by God’s grace. (1 John 1:9)
“Amazingly, our child, there is still a small three and a half year part of this 70 weeks prophecy, yet to be fulfilled, in God’s good time”, says Grandad. “But that is quite a wonderful story, for another time”, says Nanna.
Daniel also had another fantastic prophecy told to him by God, in the 3rdyear of King Cyrus reign. (Daniel 10:1)
He was told how the Persian Empire that Daniel was living in, would be taken over by the Greek Empire. (Daniel 10:20) That is exactly what happened when the Greek Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire at the Battle of Issus in 333BC and set up the Greek Empire. It was later divided into 4 parts. (Daniel 11:2-3, Daniel 11:4)
Then the Roman Empire came and took over from the Greek Empire in 65BC. (Daniel 2:40-43, Daniel 7:7-8)
“Now, our child, we have very, very briefly covered the ancient history from before the universe was created, until the time of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham & Sarah, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Moses, Joshua, Judges, King David, to Daniel, Nehemiah, and Ezra”, says Grandad. “We have also very briefly covered some of the history of the Empires of Babylon, Medes & Persians, Greece and Rome.”
“The stage is now set for the greatest and best part of the Bible story which is the birth, life and message of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, our loving living Saviour”, says Nanna.
To be continued in Chapter 13...
