LEADERSHIP 113 [BATCH 2] - REFLECTION PAPER

The book of Daniel was written by the prophet Daniel. His name “Daniel” means “God is my
judge.” His ministry was involved in interpreting dreams and riddles. He was a ruler over the
province of Babylon and chief of the governors over wise men. His given name was
“Belteshazzar,” which meant “may he (or Bel) protect the king” he was instructed in the wisdom
and science of the Chaldeans. He interprets writing for Belshazzar. Daniel had three friends who
were fellow captives.

His character traits:

 Intelligent (Daniel 1:17 and Daniel 1:20)

- Daniel 1:17…. "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all
learning and wisdom: ….

Daniel's gifts were even more. He received the gift of interpretations, along with the
understanding and wisdom. God would, also, communicate with Daniel in dreams.

- Daniel 1:20 … “he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers
that were in all his realm."

Magicians and astrologers have a little power, and their power comes from another
source other than God. Their wisdom and understanding does not measure up to the 4
headed up by Daniel. Daniel and his friends get their wisdom and understanding from
God.
 Perseverance (Daniel 1:8 and Daniel 1:12)
- Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the
portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of
the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

The faith of Daniel in God made him know that God would protect him. Daniel did not
want to anger God by eating unclean food. This defilement would have been because
of the law in Leviticus. Leviticus 11:47 "To make a difference between the unclean and
the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."
Daniel would rather die than break the Levitical law.

- Daniel 1:12 "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to
eat, and water to drink."

"Pulse" means a vegetable. Daniel was trying to avoid eating an unclean animal from
the king's table.

 Interpreting dream (Daniel 2 and Daniel 2:27-28)

- Daniel 2:1 … Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled,
and his sleep brake from him.".

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 LEADERSHIP 113 [BATCH 2] - REFLECTION PAPER

A person as successful as Nebuchadnezzar, would not dream bad dreams. Wealth and
fame do not make a person happy. This dream is to elevate Daniel in the kingdom.

- Daniel 2:27 "Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, the secret which
the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the
soothsayers, shew unto the king;" v28 "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth
secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.
Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;"

Daniel first tells Nebuchadnezzar the impossibility of man to do what the king had
asked. Only God could reveal this dream. He is, in a sense, defending the wise men.
This was Daniel's opportunity to tell Nebuchadnezzar of his God. Daniel will give God
the glory for it all. God reveals these secrets to His own. Daniel belonged to God, so
he has the dream and interpretation. This vision is for the latter days, not for the next
few days. First, Daniel tells him he dreamed of his head upon the bed.

 Man of prayer (Daniel 6:10)

- Daniel 6:10 … he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave
thanks before his God, …

Daniel must worship God and he did not hide. He prayed 3 times a day. He bowed on
his knees, before his God. By opening the window toward Jerusalem, he was saying,
his loyalty was to the God of Israel.

His flaws:
 Daniel was a captive (Daniel 1:3-6).
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s
service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men
without any physical defect, handsome,showing aptitude for every kind of
learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.
He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[a] 5 The king
assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table.They were to be
trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among
those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

As a captive, Daniel was not free to do many things. Even his food intake was
determined by the king. This situation could have been very frustrating to Daniel.
 Daniel was envied by many (Daniel 6:4).
4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against

Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could
find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Many envied Daniel. They plotted together to try to get Daniel in trouble.

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 LEADERSHIP 113 [BATCH 2] - REFLECTION PAPER

They tried every way they could to find fault with Daniel, that they might report it to
Darius. Daniel had been a faithful servant of king Darius. They could find no fault with
his work, or his loyalty to the king.

From the bible character I chose, I see a lot of flaws in me that I need to improve i.e. faith, prayer,
courage and consistency. God never leave the faithful to the mercy of their enemies and as I walk
with the counsel of great joy in my heart, God will sustain all my needs. And, in contrast to the
worldly who tend to go with the crowd and follow the path of least resistance, Daniel and his three
friends illustrate that we can live righteously in spite of our surroundings. As God rewarded them
for such faithfulness, He will also reward us. In the process of improving my Christian growth:
more of Him and less of me, praying and fasting and obeying God’s Will. In fulfilling my walk, I
have here my loving Christian spouse and spiritual brothers in Christ (Victory Group) who loves
to VG in the midst of fiery furnace because we know... In The Midst Of The Fire There Is A
Fourth Man.
Lesson: God’s deliverance of the three men from the furnace and Daniel from the lions’ den would
serve as proof that God still loved and cared for His people—whom the Lord loves He chastens
and disciplines.

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