Fighting The Little Battles First (Kent Heaton)

The book of Daniel opens with King Nebuchadnezzar taking captives from the children of Israel to serve in his palace. "Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego." (Daniel 1:6,7)

These four young men were torn from their homeland and taken to a heathen world of pagan idolatry with a very bleak future in store. From the pages of the book of Daniel, we find four young men - not being defeated by the turn of events in their young life - but four young men who turn despair into victory for the God they loved an served.

To become trapped in a world of slavery at any age is difficult at best. To have the whole world awaiting before you at a young age and have it all taken away in a moment's turn is almost unbearable to understand. The faith of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah would be put to the test numerous times during their life in captivity.

From early childhood, we learn of the great heroes of the book of Daniel. The king has a terrible dream that none of his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and wise men could tell him. Nebuchadnezzar did not want his council to tell him the meaning of the dream but also the dream itself. As the Chaldeans admitted finally, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." (Daniel 2:10,11)

Because of their failure to tell him the dream and the interpretation, the king ordered all the wise men killed. Daniel and his three friends were to be killed by the order of the king along with the other wise men. Daniel sought intercession and through prayer with his three friends, God revealed the dream and its meaning. Daniel praised God for His mercy and told the king the dream and its meaning. What great faith Daniel and his friends had in God. (Daniel 2)

Later, the king builds a great image of gold and demands that when the music is played, everyone would bow down and worship the image. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego refused to do so, even with the penalty of being thrown into a furnace to their deaths. Brought before the king, they again refused to disgrace the God they worshipped by bowing down to an idol. The king threw the young men into the furnace but God delivered them. How courageous and faithful these young men were to stand before the king of the land and refuse his commands. What great faith they shared in God. (Daniel 3)

Throughout their lives in Babylon, their faith would be challenged and put to the test but they would remain faithful to their God. Daniel is thrown into a den of lions for disobeying the command of a later king, Darius. His faith would not falter in the face of persecution by those who hated him. (Daniel 6)

As we read those stories and see how great their faith was in God, we must turn the camera back to another time before all these great hero's were made. The events of Daniel 2, 3 and 6 were not events that happened of themselves. These were trials in the lives of four young men that required a life of preparation before then. Where did their faith arise from? How were they able to stand before the king and deny his commands? What possessed them to be willingly cast into a furnace of fire or a den of lions? The answer to this puzzle is found in Daniel 1.

When brought to the king's palace, "The king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king ... But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:5,8)

The young men could do little about their name changes or the schooling they would be required to be part of. The eating of the "kings' delicacies and of the wine which he drank," was a different matter. It mattered to them about defiling their bodies and they had purposed in their heart not to defile their bodies with the king's portion. Daniel proposes a test to which the steward consented which allowed them to eat only vegetables. "And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables." (Daniel 1:15,16)

The victory won at this time will measure the level of success in their battles later in life. They knew that in order to win the big battles later in life, they must learn to fight the little battles and win. Their training began early in life. (Daniel 6:10) They learned to pray early, to use the wisdom of God's word early and to trust in God early.

It is hard to imagine what events took place when the were captured and taken as slaves from their homeland. Even on the road to Babylon, as they watched the horizon of Israel fade from their view, their faith in God remained intact. They were already winning battles to prepare them for what was ahead. God had not abandoned them on the road to Babylon. Their feet were taking them to a foreign country but their hearts saw the promises of God, and "having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)

Their faith remained strong in the face of bondage, being taught a heathen doctrine, the changing of their names and a new diet of food. God was watching over them every step of the way. The little battles must be won first to prepare for the larger battles that loom ahead. Their decisions made a difference in their lives to stand for truth at all times. As men of God, they possessed the courage, faith and conviction to stand up for God. They were ready to proclaim without fear or dread what they believed.

Small prayers beget big prayers and small deeds of kindness beget big deeds of kindness. Small victories of faith increase our courage to stand in the face of overwhelming forces of evil. Learning to face the battles today will help us to fight with courage the battles of tomorrow. Courage is learned from knees bowed before God seeking His counsel and blessing in the face of a den of lions. Courage is the ability to speak the words to a king and say, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)

C. S. Lewis said, "Courage is not simply one of the virtues- but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality." Daniel and his friends showed great courage in the face of unbelievable trials. Their faith is not unusual nor unheard in our time. As saints of God, we can take a stand for truth and boldly proclaim our allegiance to Christ the king. Fighting the little battle's first is how we learn to wage war against the "Principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

With courage and faith we "can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) Learning to fight the little battle's first will help us to know that "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

In war, every battle fought is important. As children of God, we posses the greatest power known to defeat Satan on every hand - Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Whether the battle is small or the battel great, we can conquer and we can overcome. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah stand as monuments to the spirit of courage that all can embrace today in our daily battles.

John F. Kennedy said, "Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." What set Daniel and his friend apart is they purposed in their hearts to serve God - and Him alone. Our hearts must be set on doing the will of God and to serve the true and living God - and Him alone. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12)