What’s in a dream? The large statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents four kingdoms that would dominate as world powers. All of these world powers will be crushed and brought to an end by the Kingdom of God, which will continue forever…
Old King Nebby was very shook up and frightened by a dream he had. The Bible tells me it was so disturbing that he couldn’t sleep. So the next day (this demonstrates his arrogance) he gathered in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers. The king demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed, and as they stood before him, he said…
“I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means. If you don’t tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble! But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!” Daniel 2: 5-6
The bottom line is that the king expected them to read his mind. The king not only demanded what the dream was about, he also demanded they would tell him what the dream was. Dreams were considered to be messages from the gods, and the astrologers could usually give some type of interpretation, as long as they knew what the dream was about. God gave King Nebby a series of prophetic dreams that could only be interpreted by a servant of God.
“The astrologers replied to the king, ‘No one on earth can tell the King his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! The King’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.
The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed. And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.” Daniel 2: 10-13
King Nebuchadnezzar asked for something humanly impossible. OK, let’s stop here…I just want to say that people who are in high positions and have authority, or when power goes to a leader’s head—sometimes they can demand impossible things from their subordinates. Can I get an amen? But just like we’re about to find out with Daniel, we can ask God to give us wisdom to know how to deal with unreasonable leaders and bosses.
So the king’s commander came to kill Daniel, but he asked him why the king issued such a harsh decree. The king’s commander told Daniel everything, then Daniel went to the king at once to request more time to interpret the dream. Now imagine going to see a king who just ordered your death! But Daniel was confident in God’s ability to help him. Turns out, the king gave Daniel more time…so Daniel went to his three friends and they prayed.
“That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said,
‘Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in the darkness, though he is surrounded by light.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you
And revealed to us what the king demanded.” Daniel 2: 19-23
To be continued…