Leadership: God’s Plan of Success for ConsultantsНамуна

Daniel:  Prayer-Powered Consultant.

Similar to Joseph, Daniel was also blessed in his career, from trainee to senior manager in the Babylonian empire, with several consulting gigs en route. The Bible has this to say about how Daniel was blessed even after decades of service under various leaders:

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.  – Daniel 6:28

But why did Daniel prosper? What can we learn from him to apply to your work today? 

Early in Daniel’s career as trainee and administrator, the CEO of the Babylonian empire – King Nebuchadnezzar – had an especially bad night filled with troubling dreams. Like the Pharaoh of Egypt, he sought out an interpretation from the best consultants. But unlike Pharaoh, he did not remember the dream and was unable to share it.

True to executive form, Nebuchadnezzar ignored this little detail of missing information and insisted his consultants interpret the dream anyway. Of course, nobody could fulfill his request and so he flies into a rage and orders all the consultants in the entire land to be killed, whether or not they were even in attendance to the big meeting. 

When the soldiers come to kill Daniel, he does two things that make a difference, and open the door for God to bless him. First, Daniel chooses his words wisely and then meets the CEO himself to ask for additional time:

… Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.  – Daniel 2:14-16

Second, Daniel engages his friends to pray, and when the prayer is answered – and this is even before he goes back to the CEO for confirmation – Daniel is praising God. In his report to the CEO, Daniel gives God the glory (just like Joseph did) even though that man does not even acknowledge the existence of God:

The king asked Daniel, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.  – Daniel 2:27-28a

And now, check how God blessed the delivery of Daniel’s consulting report, with full acceptance by the CEO even though the news was very bad and was yet to come:

The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”  – Daniel 2:47

How is it that Daniel was able to receive success and blessings such as these throughout the decades that he worked in the Babylonian enterprise?? 

Like Joseph, Daniel lived and worked to a high standard that was pleasing to God. And, on top of that, Daniel maintained a solid prayer life throughout. But the Bible never says that God blessed him because of any of this.

So why was Daniel then so blessed? And, what does that mean for you today?

We’ll have to dig deeper for the answer to that question…

Reflection / Application

1. We saw a lot of overlap between the work habits and characteristics of Joseph and Daniel. Which characteristics set you apart as a godly consultant? 
2. Daniel prayed for insights on particularly difficult engagements, and then praised God for those insights, even before they were accepted by the client. How does prayer fit into your consulting work?
3. Daniel credited God for his consulting insights, even to unbelieving clients. Are you able to do that also? How?