Woke Education (Daniel 1:3-5)

It began innocently enough. Over ten years ago, a local school district began replacing textbooks that had been successfully used for decades by generations of students, with new textbooks, designed to foster inclusivity and acceptance. Instead of the stated intentions, it fomented division and strife between the school administrators, teachers, and parents. It was the beginning of the woke mentality that now dominates so much of our public school education. The debate continues to rage in many cities and school districts. Is there a solution to this current conflict? Does God’s Word give us any insight?

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility — young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Daniel 1:3-5 (NIV)

Daniel and his three friends were born to noble Judean families and had received an education in Judea and in their homes. When he and others were carried off to Babylon, he received three years of additional training in Babylon’s best schools. Babylon was quite advanced in many areas of science and literature and undoubtedly, Daniel benefited from this new knowledge. However, he was also exposed to the worship of pagan gods and customs that defiled him. Did Daniel accept these false teachings? No, he resolutely stood his ground.

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 

Daniel 1:8 (NIV)

Much of the food the Babylonians offered was forbidden for a Jew to eat. After ten days of consuming nothing but vegetables and water, the officials concluded that Daniel and his friends were healthier than the others who did consume the Babylonian food. God honored Daniel’s steadfast faith. 

The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 

Daniel 1:19-20 (NIV)

This is an important lesson for all believers. The world will attempt to inculcate our children with its relative values and morals through the educational system. Not all of the information is against God’s teaching. Like Daniel and his friends, we must first train our children at home with God’s Word. Like Daniel being selective in what he ate, we need to be proactive in reviewing what our children are being exposed to, being quick to point out the difference between the Truth of God’s Word and the false teachings of the world. 

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

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