Brave, not Stupid

 

There is not a time I remember when I did not know the stories of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Narcissistic kings, men living through a fiery furnace, lion's mouths being shut was all normal as a child. For the past few weeks, in the Sunday school class I help teach, we have been studying the book of Daniel. And in the past few weeks, I have been struck by the bravery of Daniel and his friends in a way I never had before.
  They were brave. No, more than that. They were fearless. Yet there was nothing brash about their bravery. They did not parade in front of others and thumb their righteousness in the faces of their fellow man. They simply obeyed God when it was easy and when it was hard.
  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were exceptional human beings. At a young age, they were taken from their homes to live in a foreign land. What is more is that they were hand-picked to serve in positions in the government. Daniel in particular distinguished himself as leader. He served as a powerful official during the reign of three kings, each who represented his destroyed homeland. Daniel was in a position to inflict revenge, to wreak sabotage, on the men who held him in bondage. And he did not.  Daniel did more than serve his enemies because he was required to, he worked for their betterment. The kings whom Daniel served were greater for having him.
  But when he was asked to disobey God, Daniel firmly and fearless refused. He did not back down from what he believed, but he did not try to offend others with his beliefs either. he simply stood his ground. He was brave, not stupid.