Two Choices Part 1
We all have two choices when it comes to God, we can choose to follow Him or we can choose to ignore Him. This is the choice that awaits for everyone and we all must come to terms with it at some point in our lives. While we all have the choice to accept Him or not, that does not mean that God waits until we have decided to follow Him or not to begin work in our lives. God the Father created a salvation plan for the whole world, God the Son completed that plan, and God the Holy Spirit convicts us all of our sins. But that is not all, for those who choose to accept Jesus Christ’s free gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit then seals us into His family. That still does not mean that He does not work in the lives of the unbelievers, and for the next two weeks we will take a look at two different men and their responses to the work of God in their lives. This week I want to look at Daniel chapter 4 and see one man’s reaction to God’s work in his life.
King Nebuchadnezzar was a proud man, and his pride eventually caused God to turn his mind into that of an animal. When you compare Nebuchadnezzar before chapter 4 of Daniel to his actions at the end of chapter 4 you can see something radical has happened in his life. Nebuchadnezzar was a man who would throw people into a furnace for not worshiping his golden image (Daniel 3), it was certainly his way or the highway. Now even though Nebuchadnezzar had seen God protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego from the furnace, he refused to accept God’s mighty hand. This was not a man who would think to bow his knee to God.
Daniel Chapter 4 sees Nebuchadnezzar at ease in his kingdom, he had conquered his enemies and his days were filled with doing only what he pleased. It was in this place of comfort that God sent Nebuchadnezzar a dream that caused him to be filled with fear. The dream was that of a giant tree, “ 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. 13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. “‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. 17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had” Daniel 4:11-18. Nebuchadnezzar was afraid of his dream and called all of his counselors to him to see what they made of it. None were able to make any sense of the dream except for Daniel, who had to give the king the troubling news.
Nebuchadnezzar was alarmed and must have subconsciously known that the tree in his dream was in fact himself, based on the symbolism of the tree being referenced as “it” and the discussion in the vision referencing a verdict against “him.” Daniel would later confirm this assumption,“20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth,21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— Daniel 4:20-22. And it is here that we begin to see God’s work in the life of the unbelieving king. God had sent this dream as a warning to Nebuchadnezzar, change your ways or your kingdom will be taken from you. Not only will the kingdom be taken from him, Nebuchadnezzar would also be driven away from mankind to dwell with the beasts. Unfortunately, Nebuchadnezzar does not heed the warning, and a year later all that was foretold of him came true. “29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” Daniel 4:29-32.
Nebuchadnezzar failed to acknowledge that God was sovereign, and it was through God that Nebuchadnezzar had any authority. Due to his pride, Nebuchadnezzar spent seven years living as a beast, he was driven from the royal palace, he ate grass, his hair became unkempt, and he walked on all fours until his nails grew into claws (Daniel 4:33). It was only after the seven year time frame did Nebuchadnezzar lift his eyes to heaven to acknowledge that his authority was given only through God. Once Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s authority in his life, his mind was returned to him. As if having reason returned to him wasn’t enough, God also allowed Nebuchadnezzar to return to reigning, and still on top of that God granted Nebuchadnezzar surpassing greatness (Daniel 4:36).
Nebuchadnezzar is a great example of one response we have to God when He calls to us. So often in our times of comfort we look around and believe that it is our own doing that has led to this. We begin to look toward ourselves for our happiness rather than realizing where it truly comes from, and we become prideful. The Bible is clear about how the actions of the prideful brings destruction, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor,” Proverbs 11:2 is just one example. When our hearts are filled with pride, we have no room for God, it is here that God will place us into a situation that will either cause us to lean on Him or to continue to try and fail to do it on our own.
God gave Nebuchadnezzar that chance, the dream was a warning to have him realize that all authority comes from God, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” Romans 13:1. God will also give us a chance to acknowledge Him. This chance is different for every person, for me it was a filling of emptiness, of knowing that there had to be more to the life that I was living. Nonetheless, no matter how this chance presents itself, we all must come to a realization of who God is and if we will remove our prideful self from our hearts to allow Him to work in us. “28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28. God works in our lives to complete His purpose, even if we choose not to accept Him as we will see next week. However, if we take on the attitude of Nebuchadnezzar and lift up a prayer to God acknowledging His sovereignty, than we can be restored. In Nebuchadnezzar’s case, his mind was restored to him as well as the kingdom. For us, this restoration takes place in uniting us to God, we are no longer bound by sin and instead are placed in God’s family.
When we take on the attitude of Nebuchadnezzar, we are removing our pride that we are in control of our own happiness. God works through our lives whether we are Christians or not. “One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor” Proverbs 29:23. Pride indeed brings us low, just as it brought Nebuchadnezzar to behaving like an animal and not a man. But just like Nebuchadnezzar, when we turn to God we receive His grace, “6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” James 4:6. When we turn to God, our situation becomes not our own, but His. When we see God working in our lives it is difficult not to praise Him. A fact that Nebuchadnezzar found out as well, “37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” Daniel 4:37.
Seek the Truth and encourage one another,
Alex