Connect360: The Impossible Dream

• Lesson 2 in the BaptistWay Press Connect360 unit “Faith Under Fire” focuses on Daniel  Daniel 2:1-30.

As we ponder the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s nightmare and Daniel’s ability to deliver the dream, there are several lessons to be learned.

Worldly powers have real limits. Daniel made this clear in his song of thanksgiving when he declared, “[God] removes kings and establishes kings” (v. 21). Even as Nebuchadnezzar was basking in his Babylonian power, we realize, through Daniel’s declaration, that Nebuchadnezzar was but a powerless puppet in the hands of the one who both seats and unseats kings.

The pagan gods were helpless. An interesting part of the narrative is that the Chaldean counselors did not even ponder the possibility of being helped by their gods, though they could clearly see that it would take a “god” to declare the dream. They neither called upon their gods nor sought their help even when seeking to avoid the king’s murderous wrath.

Revelation and rescue

God reveals and rescues. The God of Scripture is a God who always reveals through both his written word and his ultimate Word, his Son. Not only is God a God who reveals, he is also a God who rescues. Already, so early in Daniel’s dilemma, “the God of heaven” delivered Daniel and his friends from the certain death that was to be the destiny of all the sages. Not only did God rescue the Judeans, but in doing so, he also rescued all the wise ones of the Babylonian kingdom.

Ultimately, of course, God reveals in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. We read in the book of Hebrews, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Giving God the glory, Daniel made clear that he himself had no ability to know or interpret “this mystery” except that which had been given to him by God. Although the young Judean discerners were “ten times better” (1:17-20) than anyone else in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, their gifts paled in significance before God’s power.

Based on commentary written by Howard Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, as condensed by Stan Granberry, marketing coordinator for BaptistWay Press.

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