Babylon's Falling

Several months ago I had the opportunity to take a trip to Israel with a group of my friends and coworkers. It was relatively easy—hop on a plane to fly across the ocean, go through customs, and start touring the sites in the comfort of a brand-new Mercedes bus (also known as “chariot” in those parts). Excellent food was prepared for us at every stop, and our lodging was in the nicest area hotels. Communication with folks back home was possible through free wifi access or even the occasional cell phone call, thanks to international roaming. But that’s not how traveling to Jerusalem has always been. Jerusalem is situated in a mountainous region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea, meaning travel in the old days before the modern inventions of planes, trains, and automobiles, was a long and arduous undertaking. Extra measures would have to be taken to ensure all needed supplies were brought along, because there were no Wal-Marts back then. Travel would take days, weeks, or even months depending on how far one was going on foot. A book I just finished reading brings to light what life might have been like in that part of the world at the time of the Babylonian conquest during the time of Daniel and his three friends.

In the beginning pages of Babylon's Falling, we are introduced to four Israelite young men as they are beginning the exile out of Jerusalem after being captured by the Babylonian army. The historical novel continues through Daniel’s and his three friends’ ascent into places of prominence in the Chaldean court of wise men as they honor God in their daily living even though they have been placed in a heathen king’s palace. The author uses the first six chapters of the Book of Daniel as inspiration for the events that take place in these men’s lives, but also takes some liberties to suggest why Daniel was not present when Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego) were thrown into the fiery furnace.

I’ve discovered that historical fiction is a great way to stir up interest in past cultures, geography, and events that shaped the history of the world. I found myself riveted to the plot of this fictional work even though I knew the Bible-inspired stories. The dialogue and conversation between the characters brings out the fact that these Bible heroes were in fact human and had important choices to make how they lived their lives given their circumstances. Throughout his service in the foreign land, Daniel regularly sought the Lord his God in prayer three times a day. Because of his willingness to be used of God—whether in the countryside or in the courts of kings—he was able to provide service as a provincial governor and a counselor to at least four kings. May we be like Daniel who said, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to Whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:20-21).

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Babylon's Falling through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.