Dinner With Daniel by Rebekah

Dinner With Daniel by Rebekah - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

One of the historical figures I admire most and would love to have dinner with is Daniel. He was taken from his home in Israel at a young age, and was placed in a country and culture that was completely foreign to his own. Even though he was afraid he did not give in to those around him. He chose to trust that God would take care of him, and remained obedient to God’s plan for his life.
He and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) stayed true to God from the moment they set foot in Babylon. When they were being trained with other young men for important positions, they asked to go on a diet of vegetables and water instead of the wine and meat that had been offered to idols. They could have gotten in huge trouble for that, but by the end of two weeks, they were stronger than the other men because God rewarded their obedience. That’s just the beginning in a long list of amazing things they’ve done in their lives. From the furnace to the lion’s den, to the ins and outs of political intrigue, God used them to shape lives and events.
I admire all four of them, but since I can have dinner with only one, I would choose Daniel. He could tell me secondhand about how God saved his friends from the furnace, and it would be exciting to hear firsthand about the various struggles and successes of sticking to your faith while dealing with politics in a country that is directly opposed to what you believe. He could tell me what it was like to see Nebudchanezzar’s journey towards God. From complete disbelief, to watching God save three young men from the furnace he threw them in, to his momentary madness that taught him lasting humility, it sounds like an amazing tale of victory and I would love to hear the play-by-play.
At the dinner I would make something yummy and modern to eat that also wouldn’t conflict with Jewish dietary laws. It would be exciting and inspiring just to eat and talk with him.