Maybe Daniel Bowed

2023-07-13

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego never bowed to the giant idol Nebuchadnezzar made. Where was Daniel?

I always thought that perhaps he was running an errand for the king. He was appointed to a very high position. “Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king” (Daniel 2:48-49).

But what if Daniel bowed? Surely he was in town that day. “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up” (Daniel 3:2). Since he was not mentioned with his three friends, maybe he compromised. He may have told himself that he is only bowing on the outside and not in his heart. Who knows?

Also, the Bible does not mention that the prophet had any problem with the following: “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him” (Daniel 2:46).

What if Daniel bowed? On the one hand, that would be rather disappointing. He does not seem to commit a bunch of wickedness anywhere else in the book... perhaps this was his one great failure? However, if he did bow, that would make him quite human. After such a potential swelling of pride, maybe he fell. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). We have done great evil in thoughts, words, and deeds. If he did bow, we see a demonstration of God’s grace in that after he fell, he was forgiven and restored to serving the Lord again. We have hope in this. So many lessons we can learn no matter what really happened. There is no explicit mention of any fall, but either way, God’s grace was there for him.