The Way We Fight
Think of a time when you received a message you didn’t want to hear... We’ve all been on the receiving end of bad news, whether by turning on the television, talking to a boss, or hearing from someone close to us. Maybe the news was something that would impact someone we love. Maybe it was something we knew would negatively affect us directly.
In the book of Daniel Chapter 10, Daniel speaks of a revelation he was given, through a vision, by God. Because it was given by God, Daniel knew he could trust it. Sadly, the message concerned a coming war. A “great war” (Daniel 10:1). Fortunately, Daniel knew what to do: pray.
Daniel was so distressed by this vision that he says he mourned, fasted, and prayed for 3 weeks. He ate no choice food, no meat or wine touched his lips and he used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Living in Colorado, I just have to say that going without lotion for 3 weeks is a sacrifice! Especially where feet are concerned!
So here’s Daniel, who just finished 3 intense weeks of denying himself things that might have brought him quick comfort (yummy foods, wine) and you know he was probably weak and, well, scaly. I mean, no lotion. Not judging; just saying. Imagine his surprise (and by surprise, I mean terror) as an angel (presumably Gabriel) shows up and starts talking to him. There’s a reason that angels in the Bible often lead with “Fear not” or “Do not be afraid”. This was not a cute, chubby, half-naked cupid-looking angel, floating at eye-level. No, this angel, dressed in linen, looked like a man, but with a few very major exceptions. His body was like Topaz, his face like lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches. Oh, and his arms and legs were like the gleam of burnished bronze. When he spoke, his voice was like the sound of a multitude. Then- get this- nobody who was with Daniel could hear or see what he was witnessing. They clearly knew something was up though, because, “such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves” (vs. 7).
So there was Daniel, abandoned by his friends, freaked out beyond all measure. So freaked out, in fact, his face turned deathly pale and he was helpless. As he listened to the angel speak, Daniel fell into a deep sleep, his face to the ground. Poor Daniel must’ve been so weak and emotionally drained, can you imagine?
The angel then touched Daniel and said, “No nap for you!” Just kidding, he said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you (vs. 11).
I’ve never been touched by an angel (pun intended), but if I ever were, I’d love to hear those words, wouldn’t you? A messenger of God Almighty says to you, “(fill in your name here), you who are highly esteemed…” Say what, now? Highly esteemed? By God? Wow.
Daniel stood, understandably (and literally) shaken up by what he’d heard and seen. Then, and here’s where it gets reeeeally intense, ya’ll- the angel goes on to tell Daniel this: “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I have come in response to them” (vs 12).
Again, is it wrong to envy Daniel? Probably, but it’s hard not to! This angel is basically complimenting Daniel on his posture in prayer. That he “set his mind to understanding” and that he humbled himself before the Lord and that God heard him. Highly esteemed indeed! He’s explaining that God heard Daniel’s plea and He responded immediately.
The next part though, opens our eyes to the unseen realm. The angel said, “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I was detained there with the king of Persia.” What the angel (again, possibly Gabriel) was saying is this: from the moment Daniel prayed, the angel was dispatched. But for those 3 weeks, while Daniel fasted and prayed, the angel was fighting against another angel, mentioned as “The Prince of Persia”. This most likely refers to a fallen angel. We know that God alone creates and that Satan only counterfeits. He cannot create; he can only copy, distort and pervert what God created. So this angel was held up in coming to Daniel. Sounds crazy, right?
I’ve talked to many people recently, many of them not Christians, who have commented on a “darkness” or a “shift” or something similar that seems to be going on in our world. I think the reason for this is fairly obvious and lucky for us, it can be found (like everything else) in the Bible.
Ephesians 6:10-12 says this:” Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
What was going on in Daniel Chapter 10 was spiritual warfare and it shows us a few things:
There are things going on in the spiritual realm that we don’t see
God hears our prayers
Prayer moves the hand of God
We live in uncertain times. Seems like there are wars and rumors of wars, doesn’t it? What personal battles are you fighting right now? Do you realize that God hears your prayers and that one of the best, most important ways to fight your battles is on your knees in prayer? Have a family member who is struggling? A co-worker who is hurting? It all starts in the same place and in the same posture. On our knees in prayer. God hears us! May we be a people who are surrendered and devoted like Daniel, to lead a life of prayer, taking any bad news we may receive and giving it to God in prayer.