The God in heaven
Growing up in a Christian family who took me to Sunday school, I was taught many of the ‘classic’ Bible stories. I loved hearing about people in the Old Testament such us Noah, Joseph and Esther.
One of my favourites was about ‘Daniel and the lion’s den’. It’s the story about a young man of Jewish nobility who was deported from Jerusalem to Babylon around 605BC. Along with others, Daniel was trained in Babylonian culture before going into service of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Before the epic story of him being thrown to the lions (and surviving) there is another tale of when the King had a dream…
Nebuchadnezzar had a vivid dream and could not understand it, and it troubled him. He called for his fortune-tellers, magicians, wizards, and wise men to tell him what he dreamt and to give him the meaning. If they did not, they would be killed!
This was an impossible task and none of them could help him. At this point Daniel intervened...
“The king asked Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I dreamed and what it means?” Daniel answered, “No wise man, magician, or fortune-teller can explain to the king the secret he has asked about. But there is a God in heaven who explains secret things…”
The story goes on to say that God revealed both the dream and its meaning to Daniel, who explained it to the King. Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he did not carry out his death threat, and he promoted Daniel to Babylon’s ‘Prime Minister’. He also acknowledged Daniel’s God as being ‘the greatest of all gods!
What struck me in this amazing story was Daniel’s response when the King asked him if he could tell him the dream and interpret it. Daniel said ‘no’, he couldn’t. But he quickly followed up by saying that there was a God in heaven who could!
Daniel knew his limits and his humanity. But he also knew that God has no limits and can-do greater things than any human. His trust and confidence were in God alone, and it worked.
He was not embarrassed or ashamed to bring God into that situation, and look what happened: He answered Nebuchadnezzar, saved the lives of his work colleagues and the King saw what God can do.
Like Daniel, I am well aware of my weaknesses and I also know this ‘God in heaven’ who is ‘the greatest’ can do far more than me. Can I be bold, like Daniel, and involve God in all situations in my life? What about you?
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader