As a young teen, Dan was a victim of human trafficking. His abduction was the result of a Middle-Eastern tribal conflict. Those in authority quickly identified Dan’s intellectual brilliance and practical wisdom.
Instead of rebelling against his captors, Dan chose to be helpful in his responsibilities of servitude. However, three times a day, he stopped to pray.
Through his loyal integrity, he eventually was promoted to administrator of the country, second only to the King. Some of the governors below Dan became envious of his power and authority. They sought to find some scandal or secret in Dan’s life to discredit him.
But they couldn’t come up with anything because Dan had demonstrated trustworthiness in all that he did. They knew the King was a dictator seeking total compliance from his subjects.
So they plotted and went to the King saying, “Hail to the King! We all agree you should issue this order- For the next 30 days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you. If one disobeys, execution will follow.”
This decree greatly appealed to the King’s ego and he issued the order. Dan learned of the decree and immediately knew his highest loyalty was to God.
He could not be disloyal to his Father God gifted him, directed him and loved him. So Dan continued to pray 3 times daily in his private quarters.
Strategically, the governors broke into Dan’s quarters and caught him praying. When they reported this news to the King, he was crushed. He respected and admired Dan’s loyalty as kingdom administrator.
The King’s orders couldn’t be reversed. Before Dan was thrown into the pit of hungry animals, the King went to Dan saying, “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, will get you out of this.”
Sure enough, the animals never touched Dan. The King had the conspiring governors and their families thrown into the animal pit and they were executed quickly.
The King then issued a new order, “Peace and prosperity to you! I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel.” (NLT: Daniel 6: 25 – 27)
This story seems to suggest loyalty to God, above all others, can determine the actions of leadership. Could we conspire to fight corruption and hatred through conversation with God and obedient action?
I’m sure Dan asked God to guide and care for the King even when he didn’t agree with him. There’s always a blessing in that kind of loyal love as seen in the rest of the story – So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (NLT: Daniel 6: 28 – 29)