“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.” (Daniel 2:10-11 NLT)
When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a very disturbing nightmare, he demanded his “wise” men, who, except for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishal, and Azariah, were sorcerers, astrologers, and magicians, to interpret his dream. But the plot thickened because he wanted them to tell him, not only what the dream meant, but what he dreamed, which, as they observed, was humanly impossible.
To make matters worse, the king told them if they didn’t, he would have them torn limb from limb. Not a very promising prospect for anyone. All there adult lives these astrologers, essentially worshipers of the devil, had made their living fooling people into believing things that weren’t true, even the king. But when real men of God were captured and their lives were being threatened along with the others, Daniel and his friends went to the Lord, the only logical thing to do.
What impossible situation do you find yourself in today? Hopeless? Helpless? At the end of yourself? All resources exhausted? Maybe it’s time you called on the One who has all power and all the resources of heaven. And maybe you’re thinking: “Yeh, I’ve tried that, and it didn’t work. I begged God to intervene, to heal my loved one and they still died. To save my marriage and they still left. To heal my loved one and they didn’t get any better.”
May I say with true empathy, I understand. I begged God to save my marriage, but my wife still left. But I begged the same God to heal my 16-year-old son of leukemia and he’s 50 years old today. Why answer one prayer, but not the other? I used to think I’d ask Him when I got to heaven, but the closer I get to Him, the less I need to know. Knowing Him is enough. He’s made it clear He actually answered both prayers…very clearly.
And yes, I realize that doesn’t answer all your questions, but let me just say, sometimes miracles come in small packages. Sometimes we ask for healing and what we get is a remembrance of a blessing shared or an unexplainable smile. Sometimes it’s the squeeze of our hand assuring us they and we are going to be okay. Sometimes a roadblock leads to a better route to our destination.
For the men of God being held captive in Babylon, God intervened in miraculous ways. He gave Daniel full revelation of the king’s dream which resulted in Daniel being given a high position and great material reward. But that wasn’t the greatest miracle.
In Daniel 4:34 the pagan king praises the Lord when he said: “After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.” He elaborates even more, but the point is, interpreting dreams is a small thing for God. He knows our every thought whether awake or asleep. The miracle is when a person voluntarily opens their stubborn heart to Him in worship and confession of there sin.
What we don’t very often understand is the miracle for which we pray isn’t always the miracle God wants to give us. Rather than give us answers, He desires to give us the miracle of Himself. He is the answer to our every question. He is the fulfillment of every promise, every longing, every desire.
When we find Him, we’ll find out just how rare real really is.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 