LESSONS FROM THE LIONS' DEN

 
       It has been said, "familiarity breeds contempt."  If you grew up going to Sunday School or had more than one children's Bible book, you are more than just a little familiar with the story of Daniel in the lions' den.  In fact, if you are like me, and a preacher begins to preach on Daniel in the lions' den, you will probably soon be daydreaming about what you plan on doing when church is over.  

     Why?  Familiarity!  We must be very careful to not, in our familiarity, forget that this a story of the supernatural.  

Supernatural events are pretty common in the Bible.  Some we just accept as fact because we have learned these stories as small children and never questioned.  The supernatural events in Revelation are not so common to us because Revelation is not usually Sunday School fare.  

     Likewise, we learn all about Noah's ark, the animals coming to the ark and all the supernatural events associated with the flood in Sunday School and accept it at face value.  What we do not learn about in Sunday School is the Sons of God who took the daughters of man to be wives and produced Nephilim, precipitating the flood.   So when, as adults, we hear about angelic/human hybrids, we scoff.  Why can we accept that animals came to the ark of their own accord but we cannot accept that certain angelic beings mated with humans and produced giants?  Familiarity!  for more on the Nephilim CLICK HERE  

But, I digress...  When it comes to Daniel in the lions' den, two things we must keep in mind:

1. Hungry lions not eating a man is a supernatural occurrence
2. Nowhere is it recorded that Daniel had any assurance that he             would not be eaten.

     Daniel spent the night in the lions' den expecting to be eaten at any given moment!  Daniel did not sit there petting the lions, Daniel did not curl up in the mane of a lion and go to sleep.  Daniel prayed and waited, most likely in fear... ALL NIGHT LONG!

      Daniel experienced a supernatural work of God that probably shocked him as much as anyone.  We hear about it now, as adults, and we yawn.  When we study scripture, it is important to not allow familiarity to rob us of the wonder of miracles.  

     I believe God is still in the miracle business today, after all, He is the same "yesterday, today and forever."  Face your seemingly impossible situations with prayer.  Not every prayer is answered the way we want, but, Jesus told us, "what is impossible with man is possible with God."

Now, go live as Christ... and give the devil hell!