One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that bothered him greatly. He asked his fortunetellers and magicians to tell him both the dream and its meaning. His request was an impossible one, they responded. No man could do what the king asked.

“Praise God forever and ever, because he has wisdom and power. He changes the times and seasons of the year. He takes away the power of kings and gives their power to new kings. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who understand. He makes known secrets that are deep and hidden; he knows what is hidden in darkness, and light is all around him.” DANIEL 2:20-22 “The God of heaven will set up another kingdom that will never be destroyed or given to another group of people. This kingdom will crush all the other kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will continue forever.” DANIEL 2:44

    God, the source of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel, a bright and devoted young Israelite who had become an adviser to the king. After giving God the credit, Daniel described the massive image the king had seen: The head was gold, the chest and arms were silver, its torso and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were a mixture of iron and clay. Then Daniel told of the mysterious rock that struck the image, destroying it and continuing until it became a mountain that filled the earth.

    Daniel then told Nebuchadnezzar God’s message. The almighty God of Israel, the God who gives all kings power and authority, had given Nebuchadnezzar — the head of gold — the right to rule. Other kingdoms would come after Nebuchadnezzar’s, but none would be as great as his until God set up his own kingdom. Then God’s kingdom would crush all who challenged it, and it would never be destroyed.

    Nothing would stop God’s coming kingdom.

Reflection: The mysterious dream of Nebuchadnezzar brought God’s message of hope for Israel. Although three other world powers would follow Babylon (Persia, Greece, and Rome), God himself would then carve out his own new kingdom, and that kingdom would be the greatest of all.

    God was planning to redefine the concept of kingdom. His kingdom would not come and go like all earthbound empires; the all-powerful ruler of heaven and earth has a kingdom that lasts forever and will never be overthrown.

 

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Title: "Kingdom Dreams"
Author: Ron Rose
Publication Date: November 3, 2002