The best lion

December 18

Read: A selection from Daniel 6

The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, “O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?” …

Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” …

Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.”

Read the full passage.

Listen:

Daniel was brave. The reason he was brave was because he trusted God. Daniel knew that God was powerful and would take care of him.

Daniel wasn’t scared to pray to God, even though the king had made a rule that people could only pray to the king. Daniel wasn’t scared to go into the lions’ den, even though the lions were hungry and ready to eat him. Daniel knew that God would take care of him.

And God did! God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths so they couldn’t bite Daniel.

Did you know that when God sends an angel, it’s almost like he sends himself? Angels are not just God’s friends. They represent God. So the angel in the den with Daniel was almost like God in the den with Daniel.

God himself was protecting Daniel! God—the Lion of Judah—showed the lions of Babylon that he was more powerful and that he would protect Daniel.

Wonder:

When is a time that God helped you feel brave? What is it like to feel God’s presence with you?

Pray:

God, thank you for being powerful and protecting me. Would you help me trust you? Amen.

Jesse Tree family Advent devotional book cover

This devotion is part of

The Jesse Tree Story:
A Family Advent Devotional

Each devotion in this family Advent devotional invites you into the story of someone on Jesus’s family tree. These devotions will show young children how God was preparing for Jesus to be born across many generations. Each story pairs with a symbol you can hang on your own Jesse Tree.

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