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I am using readings from the 49 Week Bible Challenge as the basis for these devotions. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. Today’s readings are Matthew 28; Daniel 10; Micah 2; Haggai 1.
Daniel 10:1-14
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
I’ve loved Daniel 10 ever since I read it in connection with John Eldridge’s Waking the Dead book and companion devotional study. I’ve used it in teaching confirmation, delighting to describe the “man clothed in linen” as being an 11 on the 10-point weirdometer scale. This vivid imagery captures the awe-inspiring nature of God’s messengers. Even when God dispatches angels in answer to our prayers the answers don’t come instantly.
There is a spiritual dimension that inhabits every corner of life. We live in a world of desks and chairs, cars and highways, houses and playgrounds. But sometimes all we can see are the cars and playgrounds. We too easily miss the spiritual realities that lie behind all these things.
Daniel 10 makes that point clearly. We pray. We may pray earnestly, fervently, intently, faithfully. But the answers don’t come quickly. We chalk it up to God’s timing – and rightly so. But spiritual forces, battles, and delays in the unseen realm also impinge upon our experiences of God’s answers.
Why was Jesus in the tomb for 3 days? Why did he have to wait until Sunday to rise? Some of that may have had to do with the necessity of “preaching to the spirits in prison” (cf. 1 Peter 3:19), or “binding the strong man” in order to plunder his house (cf. Matthew 12:29). We don’t really know, but we do know that the moment Jesus died and was laid in the tomb our sins were completely and totally forgiven.
Beyond the point of proving that Jesus had actually died, his three-day rest in the tomb may teach us something about the way God works. He is neither on a time clock nor interested in merely quick fix solutions. We are not isolated islands in a sea of independent needs and desires. Sometimes even the heavenly realms must align properly before God’s answers become evident.
But be assured that, just as Jesus was raised from the dead and the man clothed in linen appeared, God hears our prayers. His answers surpass our imagination, and the worship he desires is neither empty ritual nor hurried prayers. Even when God’s answers don’t come immediately and doubts creep in, we can find comfort and strength in worshiping the One who has conquered death and remains with us to the end of the age (cf. Matthew 28:20).
David Bahn - Reflections 
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