Dreams



Daniel 2:1-23
Don't skip the reading! Click on the link below and read this rather weird story of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar! It's a great one.
http://www.esvbible.org/search/Daniel+2%3A1-23/

Much of the book of Daniel deals with what someone saw in a vision or dreamed. But this particular story has to take the cake. Imagine yourself as one of Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men. He doesn’t just want an interpretation of a troubling dream – no – he wants you to tell him what he dreamed. Your jaw would just kinda drop open and you might be tempted to laugh because certainly he must be kidding, right? But he’s not kidding and to fail means that you lose your life along with everyone else in the kingdom who calls themselves a “wise man”. This is a difficult situation to say the least. What it says to me is that Nebuchadnezzar was used to being lied to by his advisers and this time he wasn’t going to allow that. This time it was important and he needed the truth.

At this point in his tenure as a Babylonian wise man, Daniel clearly isn’t very far up the chain of power. He is not present in Nebuchadnezzar’s court when this demand for a revelation of the dreams and their meanings is made. Daniel only finds out about the event when the soldiers come to round him and his three friends up for execution. Now Daniel’s faith kicks into high gear as he responds to what looks to be his eminent death. He doesn’t say, “That a crazy request!” (which it is.) Instead he asks for a few hours of time in order to pray and seek God’s face for the answer to Nebuchadnezzar’s demand. He gathers up his small group and they hit their knees. God graciously proves that He is sovereign Lord over even a pagan king and tells them what they need to know. Does Daniel immediately run to Nebuchadnezzar with his answers? No, he takes the time to acknowledge that God alone is to praised and honored. He acknowledges that God is the only One who knows all and can provide the answers that we need. Even though the king believes himself to be a “god” he must turn to the true God when wisdom is required. This is a pivotal moment in Daniels life; one that brings God glory and Daniel into the limelight.

There are lots of crazy stories in the Scriptures and this one would certainly make the list. But if all God had to do that day was remind someone what they dreamed He had an easy day. With this simple event God is aligning His people into positions of leadership and influence. Daniel has proven himself twice at this point; first with food and now with wisdom. The story is off to a great start!

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