Afraid of a few ferocious lions? No worries. God still delivers!

Impossible circumstances call for divine intervention. Daniel knew all about that. His story captivates us still.

Daniel was among the Hebrews taken captive to Babylon. He had “an excellent spirit” and King Darius showed favor, giving him a distinguished position in his government. Other leaders, obviously envious, tried to find fault against him but could not.

They knew Daniel worshipped the God of Israel. They went to the king, suggesting he establish a royal statute and make a firm decree “that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.”

Uh-oh. Daniel’s going to be in trouble.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Exactly what those guys expected. The tattle-tales ran straight to the king. The report disturbed King Darius because a royal decree could not be changed. Greatly distressed, he “set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.”

The men returned and reminded the king the decree couldn’t be changed. “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.”

King Darius said to Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” A stone was brought to cover the mouth of the den.

While the king spent a sleepless night in his palace fasting…

Daniel faced off the ferocious lions, and he was not afraid.

Daniel faced off the ferocious lions, and he was not afraid. Click To Tweet

I wonder if they nuzzled him, as small cats do. Maybe, as they encircled him, he told them stories about how throughout history his God had delivered others from impossible situations. I don’t know how he passed the time. I only know God shut the mouths of the lions.

Early the next morning, the king hurried to the den and cried out, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”

The king ordered that the men who had accused Daniel be cast into the lions’ den, along with their wives and their children.

Darius issued a new decree: “That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

“He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (read the full story in Daniel 6).

The God who was able for Daniel's impossible circumstance is able for mine! And yours! Click To Tweet

The God who was able for Daniel’s impossible circumstance is able for mine! And yours!

Don’t let a few ferocious lions scare you. Verse 23 says when Daniel was taken out of the den, “no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

Don’t be afraid. Believe in God. He still delivers and rescues and works signs and wonders in heaven and earth. He delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. Never doubt that he is able to deliver you!

Would you tell me about an impossible circumstance where God showed up? Please leave a comment—and share this with your friends!

© Dianne Barker 2018