Daniel and the Lions' Den
Following God leads Daniel to a mix of trials and rewards. Listen to this story of how God protected Daniel.
Before You ListenLet's Get Started
Theme: Worshiping God- God Calls His People
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says that God is faithful and will protect us from evil. What an amazing promise! How has God protected you in your life? Can you think of two examples?
- Daniel was a Hebrew living in a strange land. God placed him in the king’s palace, but his obedience to God’s law sometimes put him in danger. However, God had a plan for Daniel and protected him, even when things seemed hopeless. As you listen to this episode, think about how God protects you, even when things seem out of control.
After you listen
Memory Verse
“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
Quiz
A: False. He loved Daniel and didn’t want to see him hurt but he had to follow the law he had made.
Reflect
Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of how God protects his people, even when situations seem hopeless. The story of Daniel shows that God is always in control. He had a special plan for Daniel. God allowed Daniel to become one of the king’s administrators. There was just one problem: Daniel followed God’s law and that sometimes went against the king’s laws. Daniel didn’t stop following God’s law though, even though he knew it would get him into trouble or even get him killed! He needed to be brave and courageous and trust that God would protect him even when things seemed terrible.
In Daniel 6:22, Daniel says, “My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me.” Daniel’s faith in God kept him from being harmed (Daniel 6:23). Throughout your life, there will be times when things are difficult. You might feel afraid or alone. But God promises to always be with you and to protect you. This doesn’t mean that your life will always go smoothly or that bad things won’t happen. But God does promise to always be with you and to use all things (both the good AND the bad) for good in your life.
To read the full story about how God protected Daniel, see Daniel 6. Want to dig deeper and learn more about God’s protection over you? Check out Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9 and Psalm 31:19.
Challenge
God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths while Daniel was in their den overnight. Surely Daniel prayed to God for his protection throughout his long night in the den! Create your own lion as a reminder of Daniel’s story and also to remind you of how God promises to protect you. Cut a circle out of paper (or use a paper plate) and draw a lion’s eyes, nose, and mouth on it. Next, cut strips from the paper. Color them yellow. On each strip, write one way that God has protected or cared for you or your family members. Curl the strips around a pencil and then glue them to the lion’s head to look like a mane. Add the words, “God promises to protect me.'' Share your lion with an adult and tell them about how God promises to protect them, too.
