When lions threaten...

What picture do you have of lions?  The cute 'kitty cat' or the 'killer of prey' version?

No doubt the latter!  Yet, when one of the wisest heroes of the Old Testament, Daniel, was thrown into very close contact with a whole group of undoubtedly hungry lions used by the kings of old to punish their enemies, Daniel found a different version of the killer species. You can find the story from beginning to end for yourself in Daniel 6.  Now THAT is a story worthy of Hollywood's best!

Those lions went against their nature to allow that man among them without a scratch. This was not just wishful thinking on Daniel's part, but the presence of a greater power that the lions had to obey. That angel prevented the danger entirely.  I imagine a case of lockjaw among them! Or perhaps a more tamed lioness attitude, like I wrote about Sirga.

The 'inevitable' death Daniel was doomed for never occurred because a greater power intervened.  Daniel was set up by unscrupulous rivals but protected from them.  Those who sought the death of this innocent man were not so protected.  They, and their whole families, perished, guilty of even the desire to kill the prophet Daniel.  

And the king, Darius, himself was moved. His declaration, published after the incident, was possibly a part of the process that led to the nation of Israel being allowed to return home and even rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. See Jeremiah 29:10-14 for the specific prophecy of their return, which Daniel himself held to and prayed for.

So, what can we learn for ourselves?  Lions do not have to be killers.  Our lives are full of lions too -- dangers that should finish us off but do not.  The dangers strengthen us for His purposes, both those obvious at the time and the more mysterious ones of His purposes beyond our lives.  

So, if enemies surround you like hungry lions, dangers or trials of living in times of 'exile' we feel we are in, look up!  HE, our great God, can use it all to His glory!  Past and present, and even future!