September 7

Ezekiel 29, Daniel 4, Jeremiah 52

In today's reading, Nebuchadnezzar receives a message from God through a dream. He did not understand the dream and it frightened him. Can you imagine the ruler of one of the most powerful nations in the world, with unimaginable power and wealth at his disposal, being scared by a dream, as if he were a small child? Certainly this king was mighty, but an even mightier God was trying to get his attention.

In the dream there was a great tree that reached up to the heavens. Its leaves and fruit were abundant. Many animals found shelter on the ground below and in its branches. Then a voice said to cut the tree down, trim its branches and scatter its fruit. But the stump will be left untouched.

Only Daniel knew what the dream meant. He warned Nebuchadnezzar that if he continued sinning, he would suffer the same fate as the tree. He would be driven away from his people and forced to live like an animal until he acknowledge God as sovereign over all. Daniel showed genuine concern for the king. It greived him to tell Nebuchadnezzar of his fate and he urged him to take the dream seriously.

Unfortunately, Nebuchadnezzar is a typical thick-headed stubborn human being (much like all of us today can be!). Despite Daniel's pleading, he continued his life as if the dream never occured. God gave him a whole year to repent of his sin before rendering him insane. After a time, Nebuchadnezzar had no choice but to acknowledge God as the one true God, worthy of praise and glory and honor. Then God restored his sanity. (In the dream the stump of the tree was left, signifying that the tree would one day be restored).

This story is certainly good news for us. It means that God will go to any lengths to get us to return to Him. He knows exactly what it will take in order to humble us. He does not give up on us easily. Also, it means that there is no way that we can go beyond the grace of God. Nebuchadnezzar was a sinful, prideful, and violent person. Yet, God's grace was more than enough to melt his heart of stone.