The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Daniel 6:3-7, “Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.

4 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

5 Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.’

6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: ‘King Darius, live forever!’

7 ‘All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den.’”

Jealousy often leads to rage! When you excel in something others cannot, they get mad!

Daniel had distinguished himself by revealing to King Darius the meaning of the words that were written on the wall by the finger of a man. Daniel is now the third ruler of the kingdom.

Those who were Daniel’s enemies tried again and again to find something wrong in his life –something for which they could accuse him before the king. But the determination Daniel

possessed as a young man was still uppermost in his heart and life. He lived so righteously that his harshed critics could find no wrong in him. These jealous men finally concluded they could find nothing wrong with Daniel unless they found something wrong with his God.

Thus, they contrived to lie and deceive the king. First, they “buttered him up” by saying, “King Darius, live forever!” It was another clever way of saying, “King Darius, you’re the greatest!” Most kings are powerful –at least for a time—but they are often not very smart.

Darius should have seen this coming. “We’ve agreed,” they said, “that there should be a law that says no one can ask anything of anyone except you for 30 days.” Do you see the flaw in that? Why just 30 days? Why not, three months, or a year, or forever? Why just 30 days? If we can see the flaw in that petition, why couldn’t Daniel’s adversaries and the king see it? Still, Darius took the bate. And things took a very bad turn for Daniel.

Has anyone ever tried to pull something like this on you? Stop and think before you do or say anything. Assess the motives of those who are against you and your stand for God. Stay close to the LORD. Continue to pray and glorify Him. He can handle what you cannot.

The account of Daniel will continue….

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”