"Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream"
by William Brassey Hole
TO CHEW ON: "Daniel answered and said: 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever. For wisdom and might are His.'" Daniel 2:20
Though we read previously that Daniel had a talent for interpreting dreams and visions (Daniel 1:17), when he found himself in the crunch of 'tell the dream and its interpretation or die,' he did not depend on his talent but went straight to its source.
Gathering his friends Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego he asked them to "seek the mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret."
That night "the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision" - Daniel 2:18,19.
I love his combination of humility and faith. They are evident in many places in this book where Daniel attributes to God the favor he has with the chief eunuch (Daniel 1:9) and the knowledge and skill he and his friends possessed in literature, wisdom and dream interpretation (Daniel 1:17). Here he again gives all credit to God: "So Daniel blessed the God of heaven" and then goes on to pray an eloquent prayer of praise and thanksgiving (Daniel 2:20-23).
What a great model for us as we face the hurdles of life and the challenges of family and work. I ask myself:
- Is my first thought to pray about a difficulty or challenge or do I cast about for a way to handle it on my own?
- When help arrives do I recognize it? Do I acknowledge it was from Him and give Him the credit?
PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to follow Daniel's example of faith and humility, acknowledging Your help and giving You credit instead of taking it for myself. Amen.
MORE: Recklessly abandon
"Let actual circumstances be what they may, keep recognizing Jesus, maintain complete reliance on Him.
If you debate for a second when God has spoken, it is all up. Never begin to say--'Well, I wonder if He did speak?' Be reckless immediately, fling it all out on Him. You do not know when His voice will come, but whenever the realization of God comes in the faintest way imaginable, recklessly abandon. It is only by abandon that you recognize Him. You will only realize His voice more clearly by recklessness" - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, June 18th reading.
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