Becoming Thirsty预览

Resolve to Resist Temptation

Occasionally I enjoy watching an inspiring movie. You know the type. The main character starts out in dire straits and must achieve some impossible feat considering the resources available. There is often pain. Tragedy. Character growth. And it would be awesome if the story had a happy ending! 

But real life doesn’t often play out like my feel-good movie night.

It certainly didn’t for Daniel and a host of other young people from Jerusalem. Daniel was caught in the Babylonian exile by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C. Instead of wiping out all the people, Nebuchadnezzar selected the best and the brightest from among his captives for his own service. But keep in mind, these young men were not free, and this is not a feel-good flick. 

The instructions were for his eunuchs to issue the new Jewish recruits all sorts of classes in the Babylonian language and literature. In addition, they were provided the king’s portions for eating and drinking for the next three years. 

This is where Daniel draws a proverbial line in his new Babylonian palatial “sand” and makes his resolution.  

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” Daniel 1:8

Scripture doesn’t spell out for us exactly what was the problem for Daniel, but this was a deal-breaker. You can take the man from his country, strip him of his dignity, his language, his family, his home, and possibly his masculinity. Fine. But they could not make him give into the temptation to sin against his God. 

What fired Daniel up so much about this requirement? Maybe it was that the pagan food and delicacies these Jewish captives were issued didn’t adhere to the Law of Moses. It’s possible that the wine and meat presented were a part of pagan idol worship and this was just part of their Babylonian re-education process. Or Daniel’s determination may have revolved around issues of blood in the meat which was also a Levitical no-no. Whatever the cause, the end result was the same. 

Daniel resolved to resist temptation. 

This strength of character and willingness to stand against the enemy forces in his life grew over time and through experience. Daniel’s resolve today led to a lifetime of passionate pursuit.

Like Daniel, what temptation must you resolve to resist in your life today?