Series: Resilience
Message: Determination
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 4.
Read: Daniel 1 - As you read in the New International Version, note 1-3 insights that arise.
Reflect: Homeschool vs Traditional School varies from family to family. Government School vs Christian School varies from family to family. The only common thread is that most parents want the best educational experience for their kids. They want the best foundation for their life. Christian parents are also keen to ensure that Christian principles and values are passed on too. Daniel did not arrive in Babylon without an education. It has been said, next to Solomon, Moses and Joseph, Daniel would have been one of the smartest and most educated characters in the Bible. The training he received in Babylon he received was likely to be two years by our standards as the third year included the accession year, see the chart below.
Daniel 1:1 (Babylon)
Accession Year 1st year 2nd year 3rd year
Jeremiah 25:1 (Jerusalem)
1st Year 2nd year 3rd year 4th year
In those two years, Daniel was presented with entire world shifting paradigms, with an educational experience very likely contradicting many foundational elements he had been taught. After all, the Babylonian way, similar to the empires before was to ultimately bring the “foreigners” in line with their new country. To discard their language, discard their beliefs, discard their culture and embrace the way of Babylon.
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for God to talk to your heart and mind.
Research: Look for a school near you and see if there is something you can do to support it.