Chapter 2: The Test of Faith

Three other young men from Judah had been chosen with him — Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Together, they entered the king's training program — three years designed to remake them into Babylonians.

Each was given a new Babylon name. Daniel became Belteshazzar — a name honoring Bel, a Babylonian god. Hananiah became Shadrach. Mishael became Meshach. Azariah became Abednego. They were taught the language of the empire and its literature.

Then came the food.

The young men were given meals from the king's own table — rich food and fine wine. But Daniel knew that eating this food would make him unclean before God. He could not do it.

He approached Ashpenaz, the chief official, and made a request. But Ashpenaz was afraid.

ASPENAZ“If the king sees you looking worse than the others, he will have my head.”

So Daniel turned to the steward and proposed a test.

DANIEL“Give us nothing but vegetables and water for ten days. Then compare us to the others.”— Daniel 1:12

The steward agreed. When the ten days ended, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and stronger than all who ate the king's food.

God honored their faithfulness. He gave them knowledge and wisdom beyond their years. And to Daniel, He gave something more — the ability to understand visions and dreams. A gift would soon be tested.