2:14-16
So it seemed that Daniel and his friends were doomed, but this was not to be. Arioch, the king’s commander, had set out to carry out the order and Daniel spoke to him to find out what was happening. Daniel used “wisdom and tact”. The use of sensible human methods and supernatural intervention go together, they are not opposites nor is one exclusive of the other. Daniel thought that the decree was excessively harsh, but he did not react with indignation or anger. Instead he went to the king and asked for time for him to interpret the dream.
2:17-19
Daniel was not a lone wolf, but sought help from his friends. First of all they prayed to God for mercy, for they did not want to be executed along with all the other wise men. They had also specifically asked God to reveal the mystery to them. During the night the mystery was indeed revealed to Daniel. So he praised the God of heaven. We need to recognise that our help comes from heaven. We may be under some sort of threat here on earth, and it is right to take sensible steps to deal with the matter. But we should always look to heaven. Our God is a God who acts, and we are meant to live lives both doing stuff ourselves and receiving direct help from God.
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