Deeper Reflection
God gave” Daniel and his friends “knowledge and intelligence” in secular learning – “in every branch of [Babylonian] literature and wisdom” (v.17; see Dan 1:4). And the result was they became outstanding – “out of them all not one was found like” them (v.19). And they outdid all the Babylonian wisemen: Nebuchadnezzar “found them ten times better than all…in all his realm” (v.20).Students and parents with children who are schooling will probably find this fact of God giving “knowledge and intelligence” to His people in secular learning that results in “ten times better than all” attractive. Quite naturally, we want to be “ten times better than all”. However, this biblical fact is not a principle: That as God’s people we are to be like this. It is not God’s promise that we will be like this. We may pray to God for this, but God may or may not answer our prayer. But it is certainly a possibility. One thing is for sure: God will make us “ten times better than all” when it is a divine necessity for fulfilling a divine purpose, as in the case of these four Judahite youths, whom God had called to serve in the Babylonian court.God will make us “ten times better than all” if He chooses to glorify Himself in this way. In God’s calling of His people, “not many were wise by human standards; not many were influential; and not many were of noble birth” (1 Cor 1:26, NIV). However, God does “exalt” us in our humility on His terms and in His ways (1 Pet 5:6).