Have you ever been given a task that seems impossible or overwhelming? Now, imagine being told that your life depends on you not only trying to do the task, but excelling at it. Talk about stress!
That’s what happens in Daniel 2. King Nebuchadnezzar wants someone to not only interpret his dream, but to first tell him what he dreamt. It seems like a laughable request until we realize he’s deadly serious. In fact, if no one can tell him what he dreamt and what it meant, a whole lot of people are going to die. Enter Daniel. This exiled man is so confident in God that he goes to the king and asks if he could interpret the dream. And that’s BEFORE God ever revealed the dream to him. Now that’s a step of faith!
Has there been a time in your life where you’ve taken a step of faith when the path ahead was scary and consequential? Daniel knew he couldn’t do it without God, and urged his friends to pray. That night, God granted him the revelation of the dream, but Daniel didn’t stop to gloat, cheer or run off to save his life. No, the very first thing he did was to thank God. Daniel 2:23, says, “I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you …”
Then, when Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, he made sure to give all glory to God. Check out Daniel 2:27-28 & 30.
“Daniel replied, ‘No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. … As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.’”
And because Daniel took that step of faith and was sure to give God the glory, the king was pointed toward the truth. Here’s verse 47, “The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’”
Take a moment to reflect on this story. Is there something in your life that you need God to reveal to you? Spend time asking your Heavenly Father to show you, and trust that He will reveal it to you in His perfect timing.
Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT) is a great scripture to pray, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
Cyndie de Neve
Senior Creative Director