FANatic

Taken Captive

It’s so cool when people in the Bible collide with subjects taught in school.  6^th grade Social Studies…Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar.  Listen guys, this story of God in the Bible is true.  It is REAL.

PRAYER:  God, show me more of who you are today.

GRAB YOUR BIBLE:  Daniel 1:1-7.

During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah,a King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babyloniab and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.

3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4“Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.c” 5The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

6Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:

Daniel was called Belteshazzar.

Hananiah was called Shadrach.

Mishael was called Meshach.

Azariah was called Abednego.

King Babylon swept in and conquered Judah (think Israel) in 605 B.C.  He destroyed the city and takes many people captive.  Then look what his chief of staff does…he gives them new names.  Think about it, everything you have known is stripped away.  You probably lost friends and family in the battle.  You are taken captive to a strange country.  Then, they give you a new name!  WOW!

Can you imagine being in their shoes?  Their whole culture around them changed…even their names. But they didn’t.  It may seem like a small thing, BUT pay attention.  If you believed in Jesus you are a child of God.  You are chosen, forgiven, destined for His kingdom.  BUT, the world will try to rename you.  It will try to redefine who you are or who you belong to.

REMEMBER!  Those who have placed their faith in Jesus are adopted as his son or daughter.  He will not leave you nor give up on you.  He has not forgotten about you.

PRAYER:  God, I love You!  I belong to You.  You are my God.  I will not let anyone take TRUTH away from me.