Article 2017-01 - Daniel: A Model for Missionary Training
Chapter 28: Daniel: A Model for Missionary Training
Introduction
From Daniel’s life we learn many missionary principles. First we see how the Lord turns adverse circumstances into a missionary vocation. Often He calls missionaries without them realizing it at first. Godly upbringing is a privilege that can lead to a missionary career. Another given in Daniel’s life is that missionary suitability starts with the resolve to live a holy life. Christian character and attitude are indispensable on the mission field. Relevant cross-cultural training takes place best in the host country, this book shows.
Scripture reference
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz … to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family …qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. Among these were … Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine (Dan. 1:3,4,6,8)
The story
Ashpenaz, the king’s chief-official, addressed a new group of young Hebrews. He explained to them – some were of royal descent – what program would be followed to make them into good Babylonians. They were to be fed with the best meats and wines from the royal table and look very healthy, before being presented to the King. Language studies were to be started immediately; literature studies would be added. Participation in cultural activities was expected, so that they would understand what life in Babylonia was all about. Finally they would be led before the King, who would personally interview them. The best among them would be selected for royal service.
Four of them had been friends since childhood and understood each other perfectly. After the meeting Daniel met his friends and they discussed what Ashpenaz said. Daniel explained that it was no use to resist the man’s proposal, but also suggested how they might live in peace with him. They decided not to defile themselves with the royal food and drink and asked his permission to eat a diet of vegetables and fruit.
Later they spoke to Ashpenaz privately and explained to him their requests and reasons. Ashpenaz was pleasantly surprised by their politeness and sincerity. There was no rebellious attitude in them. Daniel proposed a ten-day probation period and Ashpenaz gave the boys the benefit of the doubt, also when they said to prefer water above wine.
Scripture reference
Daniel then said … ‘Please test your servants for ten days. Give us nothing but vegetable to eat and water to drink.’ … So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end … they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food (Dan. 1:12,14,15)
The story, continued
Before the friends were deported to Babylon they had grew up in families where the Lord was served sincerely, in contrast to the surrounding idolatry. They had learned to read the scrolls of Moses and the Prophets, which their fathers and some rabbis had explained to them. When they were thirteen they had passed through the Bar-Mitzvah ritual, and were considered men thereafter. Each had vowed to serve God for the rest of their lives. Sometimes they had heard Jeremiah preach, warning about an exile to Babylonia. They had sometimes wondered what that would be like. Now they knew…
After ten days the boys looked healthier than all the others. Ashpenaz was relieved. Language learning was heavy. They had to learn another alphabet, but young minds and determination to succeed helped them over the hassles. They understood that learning the language well would benefit them, and might even enable them to tell the Babylonians some of their people’s stories. They realized how people would be blown away when hearing about how God delivered them from Egypt! Little did he realize that later the same God had to save them from the idolatrous ordeals of Babylon…
Scripture reference
They were to be trained for three years … The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego (Dan. 1:5,7)
The Story continued
Ashpenaz took the integration process of the Hebrews seriously: he even gave them Babylonian names. He called Daniel ‘Belteshazzar’ because he wanted to nominate him to become the King’s attendant. Daniel’s friends also received Babylonian names, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Some people would have interpreted this as an insult to their national identity. But Daniel and his friends understood that it should rather be considered as an honor, because Ashpenaz now considered them as real Babylonians. They used this situation to influence the court. They loathed the idolatry at the court, and prayed that God would manifest Himself, confronting even the King. They hoped that God would show Himself to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, because Nebuchadnezzar loved to use that title for himself.
Comment
There is no indication in the book that Daniel or his friends heard God’s voice, calling them into missionary service. These men are examples of normal believers, who sought to serve God where they were. Had they known the challenges God would place on their way, they might have shrunk away. Wouldn’t you, if you knew you would be thrown into a fiery furnace or a lion’s den?
Daniel and his friends display a beautiful example of missionary training, even before they realized it. Had they not been raised according to God-fearing principles while in Judah, they would never have maintained these in a pagan court. Their decision not to defile themselves was a very important component of a successful missionary career. From a missionary training perspective we may say that this ‘home training’ compares with a Bible school education. This is a vital part of shaping workers in God’s Kingdom.
Then, they were not sent to the field alone, but in a team. They could support each other in matters of principle, pray for one another, discuss their decisions, etc. Daniel was clearly the leader of the missionary band, but his friends were not spared from missionary challenges, as their experience with the burning furnace would prove later.
Yet, this is not enough, considering the demands of missionary ministry. The youths learned the language, literature and culture at their mission field. Linguistic- and cultural training can be started before leaving home, but nothing can replace learning on the field.
They trained for three years, with only secular employment in mind. Missionaries cannot do with less. Before one functions in another culture, speaks its language well, understands the local religious beliefs, estimates the indigenous value system and has earned a right to speak to the host people, a newcomer may well be three years underway.
The moment in which Daniel and his friends were no longer perceived as foreigners came, when Ashpenaz gave them a new name. They had earned the right to speak and be heard as Babylonians among Babylonians. Then their ministry could safely start. How, we see in the next chapter.
The significance of Daniel’s training model is, that if we want to present our God in a way that makes sense to people, He must be presented within their cultural context, not in ours. Why? As long as we present God in our way, which is foreign to our hosts, He will be perceived as a Foreigner, and nobody entrusts his life to a foreigner. Jesus gives the best example of this principle. He became a man, born as Hebrew among Hebrews, to serve Hebrews. Thus, He was no longer a ‘God from afar’, a foreigner.
Scripture reference
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Phil. 2:5-7)
… young men without physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well-informed, quick to understand … (Dan. 1:4)
The Hebrew friends were of royal descent. Their nobility was seen not only in their gracious attitude, but also in their training and intellectual capacities. They were future kings in the truest sense, which made them suitable to serve at Nebuchadnezzar’s court. Our character, attitude and even secular capacities, by God’s grace and vocation, can enable us to serve Him in the highest circles, even those of secular governments.
Discussion & dialogue
- Discuss the differences between Ezekiel’s mono-cultural ministry to the Jews, and Daniel’s cross-cultural ministry to the Babylonians
- Sum up the main ingredients of the missionary training Daniel and his friends underwent
- Assess for yourself, in the light of Daniel’s missionary training model, how well you were trained, and plan to work towards improvements of gaps in your training you may find
