A: In Back to the Bible's Biblical Correspondence Department we hear from a good cross section of society and learn about the problems that people face. Pastors often ask us, "What is the number one problem that Christians face today?" I believe that fear is no doubt the number one problem that Christians are struggling with. Surveys have been taken, and the results show that fear does more to hinder the effectiveness of our Christian witness than anything else. Millions of people are living in the bondage of fear. Some fear declining health. Some are fearful concerning their financial needs. Some fear a serious economic recession which may cause them to lose their job. Some are afraid that their friends will leave them. Some are afraid of growing old.

Fear is as old as the human race. It began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned and hid themselves from the Lord. The Lord called out for Adam, and Adam replied, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself" (Gen. 3: 10). Yes, fear began in the Garden of Eden and has continued down through history. Various forms of the word "fear" are used over 500 times in the Scriptures.

The Bible makes it clear that fear will be multiplied in the last days and that fear is one of the signs of the end times. In Luke 21 we read: "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken" (vv. 25-26). Yes, we are witnessing multiplied fear in these days.

Is it possible, in light of these conditions, for us to live free from fear? The answer is yes. Psalm 34:4 says, "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Notice that the Lord does not promise to deliver us from some of our fears, but He has assured us that He will deliver us from all of our fears. The mature child of God can live free from fear as he walks with the Savior. Remember, Jesus alone can dispel fear.

As we study the Scriptures, it is very apparent that even some of God's choice servants were at times overcome with fear. Abraham, in his early years, struggled with the fear of famine. He found it difficult to trust God for his material needs. No doubt all of us, at times, struggle with similar problems. Abraham encountered a famine in the land that God gave him. How strange that there should be a famine in the land that was to flow with milk and honey. But this was a test of faith. I'm sure that Abraham was very surprised to encounter famine, especially since he was in the center of God's will. Nevertheless, Abraham, in facing famine, took the easy way out by going down to Egypt. He did the very thing that many believers do today when they face a problem--he ran from it rather than calling upon the Lord.

In Genesis 12:10 we read: "Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land." Notice that Abraham went down to Egypt to sojourn. The word translated "sojourn" means to dwell as a temporary resident. Egypt is typical of the world, and Abraham was trusting in things that the world provided rather than trusting in the Lord. He was leaning upon the arm of the flesh rather than leaning upon the arm of the Lord (see Jer. 17:5).

Notice the instruction given in Isaiah 31:1: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!" Lack of faith led Abraham to Egypt, and soon he began to worry about his wife's safety (Gen. 12:11-20). Fear always leads to frustration and worry.

Much of the world today is struggling with inflation. One missionary family wrote to request prayer for their financial needs, saying that the cost of living in the country where they are serving had gone up 629 percent in two and a half years. They made it very clear that they were not fearful and that they were not going to run from their problem but were waiting upon God for His solution.

Many senior citizens have written to us requesting prayer for their financial needs, for many of them are on a very limited income. Some have become fearful as they watch their tiny financial reserve melt away. "What do we do now?" they ask. "Is God going to let us starve to death?" Some say, "This is why I fear growing old."

My heart goes out to these dear friends, but I'm encouraged by the testimony of the psalmist. David was no doubt a senior citizen when he penned those famous words recorded in Psalm 37: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread" (vv. 23-25). During David's life-time, he observed God's care for His children in various ways, and he assured us that God will not forsake the righteous. How comforting to know that we can trust God to take care of us.

Remember, God has a special love for the elderly. In Isaiah 46:4 we read: "Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." God has promised that He will carry us and deliver us when we get old and our hair turns gray. With such promises, we should not be afraid of growing old, knowing that God has designed special care for the elderly.

But the elderly are not the only ones who become fearful because of finances. Many young couples write to us for prayer and direction as they face a financial crisis. The cost of living is going up every day, and it is almost impossible to stretch that paycheck to cover all the family's expenses for the entire month. I am reminded of one young couple who said, "If only we had a larger paycheck, then we could make it." But God does not always provide more money. However, when the Lord does not provide extra funds, He may show us how to more effectively manage what we have.

We have an exciting illustration of this in 2 Kings 4: "A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, 'Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves'" (v. 1).

The death of a husband and a father not only causes heartache, but it also causes hardship, for the management of the home and finances is shifted to the wife. In some cases, the wife may have little or no knowledge of the financial affairs of the home. One lady wrote: "When my husband died, I suddenly found myself not only a widow but also the head of the house. My husband was a good businessman, so I did not want to get involved in our financial affairs. I did not know what bills were due each month, nor did I know our financial indebtedness. Now this is all dumped into my lap in addition to the heartache of losing my precious husband." I feel so sorry for these dear friends who, in the hour of deep sorrow, must make some very crucial decisions regarding finances.

The sorrow of the widow who came to Elisha was multiplied when she learned that her creditors were about to take her two sons to be slaves since she had no money to pay her debts. Sometimes creditors take advantage of widows, and this may be one reason why the Lord instructed His people to take care of the widows and the fatherless (Deut. 14:28-29; 24:19-22). Elisha said to the widow, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" (2 Kings 4:2).

Notice that Elisha had two questions and that both of them were presented in a positive way. He was looking for a positive answer. His first question was "What can I do for you?" and his second question was "What do you have in the house?" Elisha did not ask what she was lacking, but rather he asked what she had. We need to look positively at life and train ourselves to look up rather than down. It's much easier to look at the negative side, and we are all in danger of falling into the rut of negativeness if we are not careful of our thought patterns.

Notice how the widow answered Elisha. She said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house, but a jar of oil" (v. 2). Even though Elisha asked a question that called for a positive answer, she gave a negative one. It is easy for us to talk about what we do not have rather than to rejoice in what we have. Elisha wanted to help shift her thinking to the positive. He wanted her to count her blessings. We are to make our requests known to the Lord with thanksgiving. As Philippians 4:6 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

This widow needed to learn to thank the Lord for a tiny jar of oil. She followed Elisha's instructions: "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors--empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones" (2 Kings 4:3-4). God was preparing to give to this widow more than she could contain. This is a reminder of Malachi 3:10 where the Lord said that He would pour out such a blessing that there would not be room to receive it. Her sons brought home the borrowed vessels, and, in faith, she shut the door and began to pour out the tiny amount of oil that she had. Then God performed the thrilling miracle of multiplying that small amount of oil. No doubt this came as a great surprise to her. When she turned to Elisha for help, she perhaps expected him to appeal to the neighbors and friends to pay at least a part of the debt so that her sons would not be taken as slaves. As this woman was filling these vessels with oil, she told her son to bring her another vessel. But he said, "There is not another vessel" (v. 6). And the oil stopped. What a thrilling illustration of faith.

God often takes the things that we have and multiplies them or enables us to use them more effectively. You'll recall that the widow requested that her debt be paid so that her sons would be spared from slavery. This is all that she asked for. But God often gives us more than we ask for. Elisha said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest" (v. 7). Not only was her debt paid, but she received enough extra money for her and her sons to live on. Yes, God delights in providing for us if we come to Him in faith, believing.

Let us not be fearful of famine or of inflation. Remember, God often takes the things we have and multiplies them, or God will show us how to use them more effectively.

Frightening Doubts

Each generation must learn to trust God for everyday needs. God patiently taught Abraham how to live by faith, and Abraham learned these lessons well. But his famous son, Isaac, became fearful when he encountered a famine very similar to the one his father had encountered. In Genesis 26 we read: "There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the LORD appeared to him and said: 'Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father'" (vv. 1-3).

God very tenderly reminds us of the similarity between the famine of Abraham's day and the famine of Isaac's day. Isaac, like his father, decided to run from his problem instead of calling upon the Lord. He went to the king of the Philistines for help, perhaps thinking that they would have a "welfare program" that would help him. He turned to the king of the Philistines rather than turning to the King of kings, but God stopped him, saying, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you" (v. 2). In other words, God was saying, "Don't run from the problem, but call upon Me for direction and provision."

Another problem that many struggle with is fear of the future or fear for their own safety--they are afraid that someone or something may harm them. Some are fearful concerning a decision that they have made, feeling that they made a mistake. No doubt you have met some of these people who fear that they have made a foolish move and seemingly cannot undo the problem. Abraham, in his early life, was struggling with some of these fears. Genesis 14 and 15 contain the first record of war and the first record of prisoners of war. Also in these chapters is the first promise of Israel's boundary line and the first reference to tithing. Perhaps the most important promise, however, is the one that God made to Abraham in Genesis 15:1: "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Yes, this is God's promise: "Fear not." From that point on, God has repeatedly said to His children, "Fear not, don't be afraid."

What was Abraham afraid of at that point? We must turn back to Genesis 14 to read the account of the first war. Five kings and their armies, including the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, were locked in battle against four other kings. The five kings were defeated, and all their people and all their property were taken from them. Abraham's nephew Lot and his family were taken captive and became the first prisoners of war. When Abraham heard the news, he did not say, "That will teach my nephew not to be so selfish and so greedy." No, Abraham was moved with compassion and armed his hired men, 318 of them. These were not men of war, but rather they were farmhands. Abraham led them out to battle and won that war, even though they were outnumbered by trained men of war. Remember, one man and God is a majority.

This move on the part of Abraham reminds me of the message of the apostle Paul: "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence" (1 Cor. 1:27-29).

By God's grace, Abraham and his servants won a sweeping victory, released those prisoners of war and led them back to their homes. The five liberated kings wanted to honor Abraham by giving him great wealth: "Now the king of Sodom said unto Abram, 'Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.' But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'" (Gen. 14:21-23).

Abraham was a shepherd and lived in tents. This gracious offer could have made him very wealthy, but Abraham refused this generous offer. It is possible that Abraham could even have been named king over the five countries, but he was not interested in politics. Rather, he was interested in maintaining an effective witness for God. Abraham was more concerned about property in heaven than about property on earth.

It was after this that Abraham probably became fearful. After Abraham returned home, he perhaps began to review the details of the battle with the enemy, and in the quietness of his own tent maybe he began to wonder if he had made a mistake by not accepting some of the riches that were offered to him. He no doubt was afraid that he had made the wrong move.

Did you ever make a prayerful decision and later question the wisdom of such a move? A fine Christian couple, well up in years, felt that their lovely home was now too large to maintain. It required too much yard work, and the fuel bills were increasing each year. This home had brought them much joy in the past, but it was becoming a burden to them. After much prayer, they decided to sell the house and move into a small apartment. This move required a great deal of adjustment, and within a month, they were both gripped with fear. They were afraid that they had made an unwise decision and wanted to move back into their former home. What can you say to these friends who are fearful that they have made a foolish move?

Abraham felt that he made a foolish move in not accepting the generous offer of these wealthy kings, but God quieted his fears, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward" (15:1). Material comforts are very small compared to the great reward that God promised Abraham. And these rewards in heaven are permanent. The riches of heaven more than make up for these temporary discomforts.

After you have prayerfully made a decision, don't be surprised if Satan torments you with doubts, even as he did Abraham and the Christian couple who sold their house. The Devil will always question the wisdom of God. He did so to Eve in the Garden of Eden, and he uses the same doubts today. Don't entertain these doubts from the tempter, but praise God for His gracious direction. God makes no mistakes. Let us cast aside these doubts and claim the promises of God, remembering the promise that God made to Abraham: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward" (v. 1). I am also reminded of that great old hymn: "A tent or a cottage, why should I care? / They're building a palace for me over there!"

Abraham had to get his eyes on the Lord again and think about his heavenly home. Notice the testimony recorded in Hebrews 11:9-10: "By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

Abraham was struggling with another fear at this point. As he began to review the details of the battle, he was no doubt reminded of those four kings he had conquered. Perhaps he began to wonder if the defeated kings would soon regain their power, reorganize their armies and come to destroy him and all that he had. Remember, Abraham did not have stone walls to protect him, nor did he have soldiers on guard. He was living in the open spaces in a flimsy tent.

At the close of a Sunday morning worship service, I met a young lady who was struggling with fears, and her experience reminded me of Abraham and his fears. This young woman had driven to a nearby town to buy groceries for the family. As she was returning home, she saw a man standing by his stalled vehicle, waving for help. She stopped and offered him a ride to the next town. He set his small suitcase on the seat between them. After driving a few miles, he asked this young woman where she was going. She replied, "I am taking groceries home to my husband and family." He then opened his suitcase and pointed a handgun at her, saying, "You will drive where I tell you to drive." She had no choice but to drive as he directed. She began to pray for God's intervention--that somehow she might be set free from this violent man. Hours later, about 3:00 in the morning, they stopped at a restaurant to eat. Through a miracle of the Lord, she escaped from her captor and called the highway patrol.

The following day she was returned to her home and rushed into the arms of her husband. She soon dried her tears, and together they praised God for protecting her, but she could not erase from her mind this terrifying experience. And to add to her terrors, the kidnapper was still at large. She was unable to sleep at night because she was startled by every car that drove past their home, wondering if her captor might be returning. What could be done to relieve her of these paralyzing fears?

Her experience was very similar to what Abraham probably encountered, and the promise that God gave to Abraham was the answer: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield" (Gen. 15:1). How comforting to know that God was Abraham's shield, for He stood between Abraham and the enemies who could destroy him. And God could be a shield to stand between this young woman and those who would harm her. Remember, God did not promise to send something to protect us, but rather God Himself is our shield who stands between us and the enemy.

We can live free from fear, therefore, knowing that our God is all-powerful and that nothing is too hard for the Lord. Notice that great promise recorded in Jeremiah 32:27: "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" Our great God is not only the, God of the spiritual, but He is also the God of all flesh. Knowing this, we can rest confidently in His tender care. What more can we ask for? How comforting are the words of the psalmist recorded in Psalm 118:5-6: "I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Frightening Circumstances

At Back to the Bible we receive hundreds of letters every month from Christians who are burdened with fear. These fears affect them physically and spiritually. Fear may keep our food from digesting properly, and fear affects our sleep patterns. We must also remember that fear affects us spiritually because it hinders our prayer life.

Some have written to us requesting prayer for the leaders of their local government because some rules and regulations have been established that may hurt the Christians or make life difficult for them. Others have expressed concern over some changes in their national government. They were afraid that their government was moving in the wrong direction. A few were planning to buy a small plot of ground up in the mountains, build a cabin and try to live as hermits. We must pray for our government leaders, for God has commanded us to pray for all in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2). But should we advise these people to run away from these unpleasant circumstances? No, of course not! That was one of the mistakes that Israel made (Judg. 6).

Before Gideon became God's leader, Israel was living in mortal fear. Notice the description recorded in Judges 6:2: "And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made themselves the dens, the caves, and strongholds which are in the mountains." Notice that these people did not call upon the Lord in their trouble, but rather they fled to the mountains and hid themselves in dens and caves and strongholds.

Remember that fear brings great torment, and fear distorts our vision. When we are fearful, we do not see the provision of the Lord, and the problems look like mountains before us. Instead of calling upon the Lord, there is a tendency for some people to hide or run away from an unpleasant situation. You can imagine what a difficult job it must have been for Gideon to lead these fearful people back to the Lord to experience the peace of God that they were entitled to. Remember that God is not the author of confusion but of order and orderliness (1 Cor. 14:33). In Proverbs 29:25 we read: "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe." A snare is something that entangles; it binds and restricts movement, and fear does that very thing to the child of God. But those who put their trust in the Lord shall be safe. That is comforting, isn't it?

Many of God's servants have at some time or other struggled with fear. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, David and many other choice servants of the Lord encountered fears and frustrations. But one man has no record of fear, and his name is Daniel. Daniel had many crisis experiences during his lifetime, but the Bible does not indicate that he was ever afraid. What was the secret of his confidence? Some of God's children are fearful because they misinterpret the unpleasant experiences of life and blame the Devil for them, but Daniel did not.

He was a teenager when Israel was captured by the king of Babylon, and he became a prisoner of war (Dan. 1). He was taken to Babylon to be brainwashed and to be taught the ways of Babylon. Daniel was no doubt unhappy about this situation, but he didn't blame the army for mismanagement, nor did he blame his family for this unpleasant situation. Daniel was not fearful or angry. He did not become bitter.

How can we account for Daniel's gracious attitude? The answer is found in the first two verses of the Book of Daniel: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand." Daniel was captured by the enemy, not through the efforts of the Devil or through the clever strategy of the Babylonian army but by the hand of God. Even though Daniel was in a strange land surrounded by heathen customs, he could face the future with confidence because he knew that he was there by God's appointment, not the Devil's. Therefore, he knew that the crisis experiences would not destroy him but would rather bring glory to the Lord. Daniel did not pray, "Lord, take me out of this place." Instead, he was comforted, knowing that he was kept by the power of God.

So many people today want to run away from the obstacles instead of facing the problem. This reminds me of the prayer of Jesus, recorded in John 17:15: "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." Daniel was taken as a cap-tive to a heathen land by God's appointment and for the glory of God, and God kept him from evil.

When Daniel and his three friends arrived in Babylon, the king planned a three-year brainwashing program and then a rigid training program so that someday these young men could serve him. They were to eat the king's meat--no doubt the finest steaks available--and they were to drink the king's wine. But this daily diet was contrary to God's teaching for these Jewish boys. What should these young men have done-made plans to escape Babylon? No, they did not run from the problem. They were confident that they were in the loving hands of God and that there was no reason to panic. Daniel could have stood up, squared his shoulders and said, "I flatly refuse to follow your rich diet, O King." But Daniel didn't do that. The Bible tells us that he humbly "requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself" (Dan. 1:8). Daniel did not clash with the authorities and kindle their anger, but he humbly requested this favor of the authorities. It is also interesting to notice that Daniel did not try to avoid the authorities but went to them in a gracious manner. Remember, "A soft answer turns away wrath" (Prov. 15:1).

Notice Daniel's response to the king's request: "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 good will of the chief of the eunuchs" (Dan. 1:8-9). Daniel was displaying some of the grace of God in his negotiations with the authorities, and God brought him into their tender favor.

Notice his request in verse 12: "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink." Can you imagine a request like this from a teenager? But the offer was accepted. There was no fear, no frustration on the part of these teenage boys, and "God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom" (v. 17). "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" (v. 20). Daniel was not fearful when he encountered these conflicts because he was confident that he was there by God's appointment.

This is a tremendous illustration of how to live free from fear. Daniel showed us how to live under a government that is contrary to the Bible and still live free from fear. It is interesting to notice that Daniel was one of the few men in history who served a lifetime in various government positions and never once compromised his stand for God. Yes, we can learn a lot of lessons from this man, Daniel. He lived successfully under a government that operated contrary to the Bible.

In Daniel 2, Daniel had another crisis experience with the government leaders. King Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream, and this dream troubled him. However, in the morning he could not remember the dream. So he called for the magicians, astrologers and sorcerers to tell him the dream and then to give him the interpretation. The wise men argued with the king, indicating that his demands were unreasonable, and this kindled the wrath of the king: "For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave a command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them" (vv. 12-13).

Daniel and his friends had done nothing wrong, but it was the unwise comments of the other men that brought about this death penalty. But Daniel did not push the panic button, nor did he plan to escape from the country. Instead, he went directly to the executioner in quiet confidence. Most people would try their level best to avoid the executioner, but not Daniel. He didn't become critical of the king, nor did he threaten the government because of their unreasonable request. Notice Daniel's response: "Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, 'Why is the decree from the king so urgent?'" (vv. 14-15). Daniel's only request was, "Give us time--time to lay this matter before the Lord in prayer" (see v. 16).

Daniel's prayer did not display a critical spirit, but rather it was a joyful, confident petition of the Lord. Daniel and his friends did not cry out, "Lord, why did you let this happen to us?" Instead, they praised God, for He was still in control, in spite of the death penalty that was upon them. How wonderful to know that even ungodly rulers are still within the reach of God's restraining power. Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." Even this wicked king's heart was in God's powerful hand, and God could turn it around.

We must learn to praise God even in the darkest hour. This is not easy to do, but by faith we can praise God even when it appears that everything is moving against us. I have often been encouraged with the testimony of the prophet Habakkuk as recorded in Habakkuk 3:17-18: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." This great man of God did not become critical because circumstances seemed to be moving against him; he still rejoiced in the Lord.

Daniel rejoiced in the Lord even though the death penalty hung over his head. It is interesting to read in Daniel 2:19 that God revealed the secret of Nebuchadnezzar's dream to Daniel in a night vision. God answers prayer, and God is never late. How often the Lord moves at night to provide for His children. Remember that God provided manna at night for Moses and the Children of Israel (Ex. 16:14-22). Israel was set free from Egyptian bondage at night (12:29-51). How often God answers our prayers during the night. Before retiring in the evening, I have often prayed about some very important decision that I had to make, and very frequently, during the night, the Lord has awakened me with the right answer.

Even if world governments should move against us, we need not fear but can, like Daniel, wait for God's solution. As we study the life of Daniel, we learn how to respond to authority, even if that authority is trying to move against us. Daniel's life was free from fear because he knew that these conflicts were his by God's appointment.

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