Reflection: In Daniel chapter 1, we read the story of Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah who were taken by force from Jerusalem to Babylon during the exile. Though living in a foreign and strange land, they never lost sight of God. In Daniel 1, we read that Daniel and his friends decided to remain faithful to God and not to compromise.
It is also written that Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Yet how did Daniel know what defiled a person? Perhaps in his youth, Daniel heard God’s words read at the temple, which explained what was pure and what was impure. Or maybe his parents taught him the Scriptures, and posted the Scriptures around his home, as written in Deuteronomy 6: 6-9. In some way, he knew God’s word and based his decisions on what he was taught from it.
Though many obeyed the king’s orders, we find that these young men did not imitate others and drifted with the tide but made their own decisions. God appreciated what these four men did and rewarded them for their faithfulness. At the end of Daniel 1, we read that God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning, and when the king talked with them, he found nonequal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
Knowing the importance of trusting the Bible since childhood, the Bible Society of Egypt established the “Bible World” project, which aims to help children understand how the Bible came to us, how it was written over the years, how the manuscripts were preserved and translated into thousands of languages. In addition to the Bible World tours in our Bible House, we now have the Mobile Bible World which brings this exciting experience to thousands of children outside of Cairo, equipping each one with a solid, life-long confidence in the word of God, and encouraging them to share the Good News with those around them.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your word which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Help us to spend much time reading it regularly, to know your thoughts and plans for us and to live by it. Amen.