S118P9 – Loaded statements: the king’s commander
Dan. 1:9-10
Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my Lord the king, who has prearranged your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the young men who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.”
Like many of you, I have been the recipient of God’s favor when in a time of crisis. Sometimes, that favor would manifest itself in an unexpected financial blessing. Other times, that favor would manifest itself in being able to have the right influence over the right person. I have received grace when I should have received punishment. I have received abundance when my own acts are what created my need. Here, Daniel is in quite a spot. He wanted to keep himself pure for the Lord, but this was not within his control. The commander would need to get over his fear in order for Daniel to get the help he needed to remain faithful.
What Daniel asked of the commander was quite a big request. This man faced death by beheading if he violated the king’s rules, so his fear was great. Here was Daniel, a nobody, asking this official to put his life on the line for him. The commander had a job to do, which was to build these men into what the king wanted. For Daniel to remain undefiled and faithful, the commander would have to be unfaithful to his post. When we understand the nature of this request, we see that God had to intervene to help Daniel. God’s favor was so great that another man was willing to put his position and his life on the line so that God’s servant could do what was right.
There are biblical figures who received favor so great that we should be convinced always that nothing is impossible with our God. Esther is one of those figures, and Daniel is right there, too. This Christian life makes us face the impossible, and a lot of our work will involve trying to accomplish tasks we should not be able to accomplish. Believing in God’s favor means understanding our limits but ignoring them. It means seeking out the impossible, because it is available to us. Let us ask God to put us in the place where we must rely on his favor. Father, thank You for bringing us through the impossible, and show us a new manifestation of your favor.