Daniel in the Lions' Den

As we learn more about “Heroes of the Bible,” you’re going to see that many heroes have similar character traits.  So let’s be sure we know what a “character trait” is!  That way, you can spot them right away in each hero’s story.  Character traits are those things about our personalities that make us who we are.  

For example, you’ll remember that Noah exemplified obedience and perseverance, and David exemplified trust and bravery.  So in today’s story about Daniel, did you notice that Daniel has ALL FOUR of these character traits???

1. Daniel was obedient to the One True God of the Bible.  (The Hebrew name for God was “Yahweh.”)  Since Daniel knew the Ten Commandments, and the first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Genesis 20:3), he refused to bow down and worship King Darius.  He did the right thing!
2. He persevered in prayer 3 times every day to our One True God – even though it would have been easier to forget sometimes … or to rather be doing something else … or to simply get lazy and not pray.  He did the right thing!
3. Daniel trusted that God loved him, so he wanted his actions to honor Him, even though it made the king’s advisors mad.  He did the right thing!
4. He was brave to stand up to the king’s advisors.  It takes courage to say “No,” but God rewarded him for doing so.  He did the right thing!

So how do you get to have awesome traits like obedience, perseverance, trust, and bravery?  Well, you practice them!  Each boy or girl develops his or her character traits based on: 

• what you think,
  • what you say, and 
    • what you do.  

Hmmmm … What you THINK, SAY, and DO.  These are things only YOU have control over!  So YOU are in charge of developing a Godly character.  A goooood character.   A positive character.  What words do you want someone to use to describe YOU?  How about HONEST?  KIND?  PATIENT?  Yes!  We will see these and many other traits in other heroes’ stories ... and we’re happy to know that YOU are “practicing” good character by what you intentionally think, say, and do.  Keep it up!

We love you,

Pappy & GiGi

P.S.  Want to know what happened to the jealous guys who tricked King Darius into throwing Daniel in the lion’s den? 

• Look up Daniel 6: 24.  “At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.”  Yikes!

P.P.S.  Want to know how Daniel’s obedience made a difference in many other peoples’ lives?  Because King Darius was so amazed at God’s miraculous protection, he sent out this decree in Daniel 6:25-27.

• “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

        ‘For he is the living God 
             and he endures forever;
         his kingdom will not be destroyed, 
             his dominion will never end.
         He rescues and he saves;
             he performs signs and wonders
             in the heavens and on the earth.
         He has rescued Daniel
             from the power of the lions.'”

How awesome is that?