Just another day at the office

Read: Daniel 2:1-16 NLT – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – One night – Bible Gateway

“When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.” Daniel 2:14 NLT

Corporate Executives in notable positions of authority are subject to an unexpected crisis happening at any time. How they deal with it unveils their character a good bit of the time. Some may panic, but most do not. Some may be quick to assign blame, rather than responding to the situation. Others respond by doing their best work while under pressure. The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament did his best work best while under pressure.

Daniel was one of the Jewish captives brought to Babylon trained to become one of king’s advisors serving in his administration. An unexpected crisis developed within the king’s entire advisory staff. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, had a terrifying dream calling his advisors to tell him the dream and then give it its meaning. The advisors who were known as his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, would not attempt to answer the king’s order without knowing first what he had dreamt. The king, perhaps wise to their previous inaccuracies and deceptions, demanded they tell him his dream first, and then interpret it. He reasoned if they could reveal his dream, then they would be able to give him its interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar demanded they follow his command and failing to do so will result in their execution. They could not fulfill the king’s command, as a result they were ordered to be put to death.

Meanwhile, back in Daniel’s office, Daniel is confronted by the commander of the king’s guard. We may question why Daniel wasn’t called with the others to interpret the king’s dream. It could have been Daniel willing kept himself away from the heathen practices of his colleagues, or perhaps he wasn’t called due to being a Hebrew, he wouldn’t have knowledge of their pagan gods. People in the Near East during those days believed that gods spoke to human beings in dreams. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. Daniel was one of the king’s men, so he was included, guilty by association.

Daniel has a remarkable reaction signifying his ability to work well under pressure when Arioch came to kill him. The Bible says, “Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked Arioch, ‘Why has the king issued such a harsh decree’?” (Dan.2:14b-15a nlt) Daniel didn’t panic, not even the slightest. If he did it didn’t show. It was just another day at the office for him. What Daniel had was faith in his God who had sent him there and was with him as he worked under the pressure of being an advisor to the king of the Babylonian Empire. Daniel knew the Lord’s hand was on him come what may. He trusted God with the outcome enabling him to concentrate on his work in a professional and godly manner. A valid lesson for us to follow.