By Adrian Isaacs

Daniel, we are told, was doing a fast and “had been mourning for three entire weeks” (Dan. 10:2-3). According to one commentary, the reason for Daniel’s fast was likely his anxiety over those, among his people, who had returned to Jerusalem (John F. Walvoord, Daniel, 2012, p. 303). While fasting and mourning, Daniel saw a vision of one who is described in majestic terms (verses 5-9). This description has led commentators to conclude that Daniel saw, not a human being, but either an angel or a theophany – an appearance of God (Walvoord, 2012, p. 306).

The encounter left Daniel weakened, and in a deep sleep with his face to the ground. But in verse 10, we read that “a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees” (v. 10). The hand that touched Daniel was clearly that of an angel, as the subsequent verses in Daniel 10 make clear. But a remarkable situation is revealed to us: Daniel’s prayer was heard, and his self-humiliation before God was noticed, from the very first day of the three weeks. Yet the divine response to Daniel’s prayer was held up for twenty-one days, not because of any weakness on God’s part, but because the angel bringing the response was withstood by a wicked supernatural being – the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” (Dan. 10:12-13). The situation required Michael the archangel to come to the angel’s aid.

We have here an amazing double perspective. Daniel, unaware of what was taking place in the supernatural realm, was mourning, fasting, and praying for three weeks. What if he had given up? What if he had lost heart? Yet while Daniel fasted and prayed, a war between supernatural beings was taking place that actually delayed the answer to his prayer. Daniel persevered in faith. This should be an encouragement to us to not give up praying, and believing God. There may be apparent delays in the answers to our prayers and the fulfillment of God’s promises, for different reasons that we cannot see or understand. But God is faithful! After three weeks, Daniel received these words form the angel: “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future” (Dan. 10:14). Let us, in dependence on Jesus Christ, persevere in faith, wait on the Lord, and be encouraged!