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Fear In Faith Requires
heavenly realms. Michael, the only other named angel in the Bible besides Gabriel, came to this angel’s assis- tance so that the angel would not be hindered in coming to Daniel, since there had al- ready been a 21-day delay.
There are many aspects of this experience that we most likely do not understand. We face enough challenge figur- ing out God’s will on earth,
let alone how it is played out among principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:10- 13).
But this we know: The ex- perience left Daniel feeling pretty helpless. Good thing for him that the angel touched his lips, which puri- fied his ministry (see Isaiah 6). Even though he felt gen- uine fear, he maintained a strong faith in God.
We, too, can receive the peace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and just as Jesus gave His disciples the ability to obey Him through the Holy Spirit, God will also give us the ability and power to do whatever He has commanded us to do in the Bible; as the Apostle Paul wrote: “I can do all this through him [Christ] who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Fervent Prayer Daniel 10:10-19
A Strong Faith and Humility Daniel 10:10, 11
And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
The angel Gabriel (who also appears in Daniel 8:16; 9:21 & Luke 1:19; 1:26) ap- peared to Daniel once again in answer to Daniel’s fasting and prayers.
After seventy years of exile and after some of the Jews had returned to Jerusalem, Gabriel appeared to Daniel once again in 537 BC (see Daniel 10:1); therefore, Daniel was quite elderly by this time.
Our text begins as Daniel was overwhelmed by a vision of an angel (Daniel 10:2-9). But the angel meant no harm. The angel reached out and touched Daniel. This did not bring comfort. Daniel was scared to death. This was the normal response when humanity came into contact with divinity.
But Daniel was quickly re- assured that he remained highly esteemed. Instead of allowing Daniel to remain face down, the angel called Daniel to stand up (see Acts 10:26; Revelation 22:8, 9). Daniel had a job to do and he had to prepare to do it. Even then though, Daniel stood but did so trembling.
This underlines Daniel’s genuine humility. Sometimes bold people are not very humble. Sometimes humble people are not very bold. Daniel knew that an appro- priate posture for serving God was a bowed head, bent knees, and closed eyes. Those qualities take strong faith.
Daniel knew that his strength came from the Lord (see Psalm 121:1). The visi- tor that came from Heaven touched Daniel for a third time in our text. This time the touch engendered strength instead of fear (v. 10) or purity (v. 16).
The angel reminded Daniel of how highly es- teemed (loved or deemed precious) he was. Daniel re- ceived this angelic word and was at peace because he found a strength outside himself.
Imagine living a life of obedient faith in God so con-
sistently that God considers you highly esteemed in His eyes! Gabriel enabled Daniel to stand up when he touched him, and then he com- manded Daniel to stand up so he could tell Daniel what God had sent him to say. God graciously gives us the ability to do whatever He com- mands us to do.
A Strong Faith and Fear Daniel 10:12-17
The largest section of this week’s lesson deals with strength and fear. Some think that if a person is strong in faith, fear flees. Not so. Daniel had plenty of healthy fear. The visions that he received contained painful details. These details worried Daniel greatly and affected him emotionally. In fact, he was overwhelmed with an- guish (v. 16), and he could hardly breathe (v. 17). Even though Daniel was told by the angel not to be afraid, the experience left him with his face toward the ground and . . . speechless.
After giving Daniel a glimpse into spiritual reali- ties and warfare, the angel explained to Daniel, in ways Daniel could understand and all he needed to know, God’s plans for the future of Israel and the Judah. God gave Daniel the vision, and then after much prayer and fast- ing, God sent Gabriel to ex- plain the vision to Daniel.
God has given us the Bible, and from much study, prayer, and sometimes fast- ing, God will sometimes use Bible teachers in addition to the Holy Spirit to give us the understanding we need and all we need to know.
Daniel’s study of the Scriptures (the book of Jere- miah in particular), the reve- lations he received from God, and his prayers (chapter 9) all fed his fear. He knew that if the things predicted came true, many people would suf- fer.
In addition to this, he learned from the angel about events that took place in the real but unseen world reveal- ing pockets of resistance to Israel’s true king.
One from that unseen world is identified as the prince or king of Persia. This cannot be an earthly king be- cause the battlefield is the
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