Gods Plan is Best

Imagine that there was a class. And this was a history class that was getting ready to take a test. The teacher told the class to take notes for weeks before the test and the teacher also let the class know which chapters to study at home along with their notes in order to know the correct answers for the test so they could get an A.

The teacher told the class that this is the only way they would find the correct answers to study and this is the only way that they would get an A on the test. The students were told not to look up the answers on google or any outside sources and not to cheat.

But there was a group of students in the class that thought the teachers methods were too hard and took too much of their free time. These students decided that they would find the answers online and write down the answers and ace the test without studying or spending much of their time learning the information.

Once these students found what they thought was the correct answers they posted it on social media and shared it to kids all around the school.

When it came time to test over 90% of the students decided to find the answers and get an A on the test their own way, by cheating. However the remaining 10% of kids studied just as the teacher instructed.

When the test came around the 10% of students who studied the teachers way Got A’s on the test and passed. However the 90% who cheated all had the same answers and were reported for cheating and recieved failing grades.

In this class there were two plans, the teachers plan that lead to success, and the students plan that lead to failure.

Just like in this classroom there was a plan that was true and lead to success and another plan that led to failure.

In life there are two plans, God’s plan and all other plans, Gods plan leads us to eternal life and salvation, all other plans lead to separation from God, death and eternal punishment.

Today we will talk about following Gods plan.

Big Idea- God’s plan is best.

Take Aways

We are to follow Gods plan over all others.

When others try to lead you another way, boldly stand for Gods way.

We find out what Gods plan and will is by studying the Bible.

I’m going to give you guys a little background on what was happening around the event that we will be talking about today. Our text is coming from Daniel 1 mainly. This event takes place when the Babylonian Empire was in power and they had taken over much of the near east and was in control of Isreal. The Babylonians had taken several groups of Isrealites to Babylon to serve the empire, this was common for empires in those days to do.

In one of these groups that were taken were a group of boys including Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azarah. But the Babylonians called the other three Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego.

So at this time God had already given the Jews a way to live and he had given they laws and instruction on how to live, this was the Word of God. Now this law that God had given the Isrealites had a strict diet meaning that they could only eat or drink certain things. For example the Jews did not eat pork or horseflesh and both were eaten regularly by the Babylonians. Food also had to be prepared properly to be considered clean and edible for the Isrealites. Also the meat that was eaten was usually used to sacrafice to false Gods.

Lets go to the text Daniel 1:3-6

Daniel 1:3–6 NKJV

Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

So here we see that the Babylonians didnt just take random people from Isreal to serve their king they took the smartest, the best looking and the cream of the crop. Or the ones who had the highest potential to do great things.

Why do you guys think they were so selective and that they chose the best to work in the kings service?

Back to the text

Daniel 1:7–10 NKJV

To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”

So here we see that Daniel knew that the food that was being served was not in Gods plan for the to have because of the Word of God that he followed. So he was bold enough to state it so that he would not do anything that is against Gods Will and His Word.

How many of you sometimes find yourself in a situation at school or around peers where they are doing things against Gods Word, or they are encouraging you to do this?

We should always follow Gods word and do it His way. The only way that we know what Gods plan is, is through the Bible. So we must know the Word in order to know what we should or shouldn't do.

joshua 1:8 lets believers know the mindset they should have concerning knowing and Doing Gods plan. Joshua 1:8

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Ok, Back to the Text Daniel 1:11-16

Daniel 1:11–16 NKJV

So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

So here the person that was in charge of feeding Daniel and the other boys feared for his life because Daniel and the others insisted that they lived their lives the way God had instructed them. And He was afraid that this diet that did not include meat would make the boys weak and cause them to look unhealthy.

Just as Daniel and the three others were put in a position where their faith could be compromised. We also will be put in places and positions where people are not following God and are opposed to living for God will try to have us do as they do. However just like Daniel spoke up for what is right in the eyes of God. We also must speak up being salt and light everywhere we go. If you are a Christian then everywhere we are we represent God and we follow His Will and His Plan, which we find in the Bible.

Back to the text. Daniel 1:17-21

Daniel 1:17–21 NKJV

As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.

How many of you would think that if Daniel and the other three ate only fruits and vegetables and no meat or wine that it would cause them to look less healthy?

Well I know some very healthy vegetarians however usually it took time for their bodies to adapt to the diet change. The Hebrew boys were able to do it in just 10 days from what we can see here.

Either way what is important here is that because they were faithful to God and followed His word even when it was unpopular and strongly encouraged against by the society that they were in. The four boys found out that Gods plan is the best plan.

They ended up doing better than all of the others and God blessed them with this.

Take Aways

We are to follow Gods plan over all others.

When others try to lead you another way, boldly stand for Gods way.

We find out what Gods plan and will is by studying the Bible.