Article October 12, 1998 Issue

Which way to the lion's den?

From conflict to spiritual resolution

By Robert Dennison Wright

When there's trouble to the north, do we head south? Let's say there's contention on the job, at school, in a volunteer activity, or even during our leisure time. Do we avoid involvement? Or are we able to make the most of the situation? How we respond may depend largely on whether we think we must solve the trouble on our own, or whether we can trust in God's help.

In the Bible, Daniel was faced with having to choose whether he would worship many gods, or even the king, instead of acknowledging the supremacy of the one and only God (see Dan., chap. 6). He was a high-ranking official in a foreign government where the king's word was law. Daniel could easily have avoided trouble by going along with the idolatry of the other palace workers. No doubt he knew what fate awaited anyone who refused, but refuse he did. This resulted in his being thrown into a den of hungry lions. But Daniel understood that his most important duty was to maintain fidelity to the one God. In the lions' den, God's angel "shut the lions' mouths" (verse 22).

Being involved in a contentious situation does not mean becoming contentious ourselves. We don't need to take sides, but we should ask ourselves, "What does God want me to do?" God, of course, requires each of His children to know and follow His wisdom and direction. He has made us capable of knowing this and doing this, and every situation we face is a new opportunity to do so.

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