There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the Sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1
Are they for real?
As things become more difficult all around it seems we only have two choices; to trust or despair. I have often admired Bible characters whose temperament seems unchanged by the tragedies they faced. Job refusing to curse God despite his distress, Jesus seeking forgiveness for others even as they crucified him, Daniel praying despite the lions that circled around him licking their lips.
Are these just stories? Were these people aware of their true situation? Don’t their reactions seem a little odd given the circumstances? In today’s world we would label them as having some sort of mental health or at the very least psychological problem.
Let’s face it, if you were killing me and I was worrying about you and your future that’s what you’d think – isn’t it? If I was covered in smelly boils and all of my beautiful, healthy, full grown children had been killed in an instant – wouldn’t you expect some blame and rage as a healthy part of the grieving process? And just how did Daniel stay still and wrapped in the sweet stillness of prayer while he could feel the lion’s hot breath pass over his face? While he could smell their strong scent overpower his own?
Bible stories have a way of taking me by surprise. The more I recognise the truth of the tale and how differently I’d react the more astounded I am that no one locked these people up for their own safety.
And yet they were safer and stronger in their moments of extreme despair than many of us in our moments of success and strength. How come? What planet were they living on? Certainly not this one!
I see in their responses to the cruelty of life around them a clear indication that they saw things very differently to me. I see lions “run Daniel, run!” Daniel sees an opportunity for prayer. I see the man who put Daniel in the lion’s den “hit him Daniel hit him!” Daniel sees an opportunity to tell someone about His God. I am thrown off guard by the realisation that there may just be more than one version of reality. Mine and God’s.
My version relies heavily on what I see, feel and think. It is drawn on my interpretation of events and people. In a way it is all about or seen though me. As I am filled with worries and cares so is my tale, and as I focus on them my horizon becomes smaller and smaller still, until all I can see are my vulnerabilities.
God’s version seems to run differently. It seems that Daniel, Jesus and Job could tell the difference. They chose to live in God’s reality rather than a fragile fearful human version. But just how different could it be?
“Daniel I see lions and God’s angel keeping their mouth closed. You are loved and protected by the Most High God” Daniel, I guess, would agree. “Daniel I see the king who was tricked though his weakness and tormented by thoughts of what might have become of you” Daniel feels pity for him and reminds him that he is in God’s care.
My endless limitations are met by God’s endless possibilities. My fears, worries and concerns are opportunities for faith, trust and prayer.
It’s no easy thing to turn your focus on God when the lions seem about to bite. It’s no easy thing to see the world, the events around us and our lives from another point of view. Thankfully the good news is that we don’t have to, all we have to do is trust, for God has not asked us to play His part He has only asked us to play ours.
“A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”