Daniel got thrown into a lion’s den because he prayed to God toward Jerusalem with his windows open. Seems a silly reason for the death penalty, but alas, equally silly things are coming our way soon I imagine.
Remember that Daniel was praying toward Jerusalem with his windows open before they made it illegal. In fact, it was him doing this that gave them the idea for the prohibition.
Daniel had guts to keep his daily meetings with God.
The king was genuinely bummed that he got played by the guys who hated Daniel. He stayed up all night worried about Dan and how he was doing with the lions.
Early in the morning he opened the den and called to Daniel. He received a response! Shock number one. Shock number two is that Daniel said the Lord sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.
Was this the same angel that appeared in the fiery furnace with Daniel’s three friends? Seems likely. Was this a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, THE angel of the Lord? Could be, no further details are given.
I like the picture of an angel coming to shut lion mouths!
How did he do that?! Duct tape?
The lions, left to their own devices, would have devoured Daniel in a few seconds. Their free will was removed.
Does this imply that every time a lion opens its mouth it’s God making it do that? No, not at all.
Just like when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, does that mean that every time a person disobeys God it’s because God hardened their heart? No, there would be no reason to conclude that.
Lions do what lions do. The reason we know this was a miracle, the reason the king knew it was a miracle, is because for once lions didn’t do what lions do.
For instance, when the creepy guys who set up Daniel were tossed into the same den with the same lions, the lions crushed them before they hit the floor.
Was that a miracle? Did God have to override their free will to make them eat the bad guys? Nope, just lions being lions, plus they were extra hungry going a whole night without food.
Be careful not to extrapolate weird notions out of biblical accounts. Read them for what they say. Doing so will keep you from blaspheming the name and character of God. That’s a good thing.
If however you do, understand this is your own stupidity; God did not make you do it!
anti-itch meditation 