Daniel and the Vegetables Bible story for kids

Imagine a long table in a palace. At one end, dish after dish of the king's own food. Maybe roasted meats. Maybe sticky honey cakes. The Bible just calls it the king's dainties: very fancy food indeed. And the king's own wine.

And at the other end... four young men. Four plates of vegetables. And four cups of plain water.

How did that happen? Let me tell you.

A long time ago, the king of Babylon came with his great army to the city of Jerusalem. But even then, God was still in charge. Some young people from Jerusalem were taken far away, to the king's city. He even carried off gold and silver cups from God's house.

The king wanted bright young men to serve in his palace. So they went to a palace school. Three whole years of lessons. A new language. New everything.

Among them were four friends from home. Daniel. Hananiah. Mishael. And Azariah.

Each of their home names had God tucked inside it. Hananiah means "the Lord is gracious." Azariah means "the Lord helps."

Then the king's chief officer handed out new names, from the language of Babylon.

Hananiah became Shadrach. Mishael became Meshach. Azariah became Abednego. And Daniel? Daniel became Belteshazzar.

That one is a mouthful.

New city. New school. New names. But a new name could not change whose they were. And God had not stayed behind in Jerusalem. He was right there with them.

Every day, the king sent the young men some of his own fancy food, and the wine he drank himself.

And this is where Daniel did something very quiet.

The Bible says, "Daniel purposed in his heart" that he would not make himself unclean with the king's food or the king's wine.

That means he made up his mind, deep down inside, where nobody could see. The Bible doesn't give us all his reasons. Daniel belonged to God, and he knew this food was not right for him.

He didn't shout. He didn't push his plate away. He didn't sneak his dinner under the table. He asked. Politely. He went to the chief officer and asked if he might please be allowed not to eat it.

And here is something lovely. The Bible says God made that officer feel kind toward Daniel. Tender, even. God was already at work before anyone took a single bite.

But the officer was worried. Very worried.

"I fear my lord the king," he said, "who has appointed your food and your drink."

You can almost see him wringing his hands. If the king saw Daniel and his friends looking worse than the other young men... well. He would be in very big trouble.

Daniel listened. He understood. So he went to the steward, the man the officer had put in charge of the four friends.

And Daniel said this.

"Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink."

Then, he said, look at our faces. Look at the faces of the young men who eat the king's food. "And as you see, deal with your servants."

Just ten days. And then the steward could decide.

The Bible's word for that food means things that grow from seeds. Maybe beans. Maybe lentils. We don't know exactly.

And the steward said yes.

Day one. Vegetables and water.

Day two. Vegetables and water.

Day three...

I wonder if the steward peeked at them now and then, just to check. I wonder if he squinted. Day four. Day five. Day six. Seven. Eight. Nine.

Day ten.

Imagine the four friends standing in a row, and the steward walking slowly past, looking from face to face. Then at the other young men. Then back again.

And the Bible says, "their faces appeared fairer."

Brighter. Rosy and well. Better than every one of the young men who had eaten the king's food.

So from then on, the steward took away the king's food and wine, and gave the four friends vegetables instead. I imagine the chief officer was very relieved.

But here is the most important part. Listen.

The Bible says, "God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom." And Daniel could understand visions and dreams.

God gave it. It was a gift. Not from the vegetables. Not from being the cleverest in the class. From God.

Then the three years were over. And the chief officer brought the young men in to the king.

The king talked with them himself. And among them all, there was no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Whenever the king asked them a hard question, he found them ten times wiser than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Far from home, with a brand-new name, Daniel was still God's. And God had been taking care of him all along.

And Daniel was still there years and years and years later, all the way to the days of a whole new king.

And God was with him. God was with her. God is with you, too.

Quiet now, little one. May the same God who did not stay behind, but went all the way to Babylon with four young friends... remind you whose you are, in every new place you go.