Daniel in the Lions' Den

Daniel was one of God's people, living far from home in a land ruled by a king named Darius. Daniel was one of the king's top leaders. He was honest and wise and did his work so well that the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

The other leaders were jealous. They looked hard for something Daniel had done wrong, but they couldn't find anything. So they made a sneaky plan. They knew Daniel prayed to God every day.

They went to the king and asked him to make a new law: for thirty days, people could pray only to the king. Anyone who broke the law would be thrown into a den of lions. The king liked the idea and signed it, and in that kingdom, once the king signed a law, it could not be changed.

Daniel heard about the new law, but he did not stop praying. Just like always, three times a day, he knelt in his upstairs room, facing toward Jerusalem, the holy city, and he talked to God and thanked him.

The jealous men caught him praying and hurried to tell the king. The king was very upset, because he liked Daniel. He tried all day to find a way to save him, but he could not change the law. So Daniel was put into the lions' den. The king told Daniel he hoped Daniel's God would rescue him. A big stone was placed over the opening.

That night the king could not eat or sleep. At dawn he hurried to the den and called out to Daniel.

Daniel answered! He was safe. An angel from God had protected him all night, and the lions had not hurt him at all. The king was overjoyed. Daniel was lifted out, and there was not a scratch on him. His trust in God had not been wasted.

The king punished the men who had tricked him. Then he sent a message to everyone in his kingdom, telling them to honor Daniel's God.

God is with us when we choose to stay faithful to him.