Daniel is a good role model for us, but he had a previous role model. Another Jewish man had an unusual ability to interpret dreams, one who also is brought in before the king and speaks of what His God can do. Joseph’s story was well known to Daniel. Daniel not only knows the dietary law, he also knows that if you’re in a situation like this, you want to do what Joseph did.

As recorded in Genesis 41, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh,“but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Pharaoh tells Joseph his dream.

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.

The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

Do you hear echoes of Joseph’s words when Daniel speaks? Daniel doesn’t say, “Yes, God revealed this to me, so I can tell you.” Daniel says to the king: The great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation reliable.” Daniel 2:45

It sounds as if Daniel has the story of Joseph memorized. He may well have. He certainly has it internalized. One of the things that fascinate people as they get to know some of our students at Wears Valley Ranch is that they have memorized whole chapters and passages of the Bible. Each student starts with Psalm One. We talk about what it means. Then, we explain that the reason we want them to memorize scripture is because those who delight in the law of God are blessed: “…his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.”

You cannot meditate day and night on the Word of God unless you hide it in your heart. After the students understand why it’s important to memorize scripture and after they’ve discovered that they can memorize, one chapter at a time, we begin dangling a carrot in front of them. We reward them more generously for memorizing scripture than for anything else they do. Academics and chores are rewarded, but not as generously as memorizing scripture.

Intelligence is not a determining factor in memorizing scripture. All of our students have memorized chapters successfully. Each year, the first three students to memorize the Sermon on the Mount get a trip to the beach in Florida for a week. The passages become progressively more difficult for future trips. Very young students memorize and recite the Sermon on the Mount. Developmentally challenged students memorize and recite the Sermon on the Mount. In fact, the older we get, the harder it is for us to memorize, and, if we don’t practice what we’ve learned, we won’t remember it in old age. God promises to renew our mind with scripture; and while it’s harder to memorize as we age, adult converts have memorized very long passages. In some parts of the world, Bibles are scarce and people must memorize. The Chinese church is known for this. They have always recognized that they live in “Babylon.”

All of God’s children should memorize Scripture, not only so that we will not “sin against Him,” but also so that as Babylon becomes more oppressive and the temptation to conform is greater, God’s Word can shout all the louder at us to stand firm. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Very probably, Daniel had the story of Joseph memorized. Daniel very definitely knew the story. Daniel certainly followed Joseph’s example in how to talk to a king and how to share the interpretation of a dream and how to give God all the glory. Daniel lived well in Babylon. Knowing God’s Word is not optional if we would live well in Babylon in the coming years.
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