Daniel had a challenge to not just his way of life but his relationship with God

If only he had Godly men that he could learn from

Abraham the father of faith
How would you feel if someone promised you something and then made you wait for 25yrs before giving it to you and they didn’t avoid you either, in fact everytime they came around you, they reminded you of that promise.

And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s food, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (And God brought Daniel into grace and mercy with the prince of the eunuchs.)
Daniel 1:8‭-‬9 JUB‬

Daniel was not just going to take what they gave him.

His love for God was greater than his need for nourishment to stay alive

Daniel did not have to follow the laws of his people, He WANTED to be obedient to His God.

Daniel was next challenged with not just interpretation of a dream but to know the dream without being told it.

If only he had some example of a man of God good with dreams.

Joseph

Although he had to do something that Joseph didn’t do, his faith was in God
It was the stretching his faith needed to prepare him for what was to come

Next Daniel is faced with something no one has encountered before, staying the night in the lion’s den.

See David and Samson had killed lions before but to stay the night with them and come out unharmed and the lions still alive, that’s next level and leaving no doubt that all glory belongs to God.

Putting God first also establishes that you are set apart (identity)