Daniel 4:25-27 “You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

This is one of the most remarkable stories in the whole Bible, and the interesting things is, it is confirmed by other historical documents that indicate there was a seven year period in which Nebuchadnezzar was sidelined and an unnamed regent ruled the Babylonian Empire. There is ample reason to think that Daniel may well have been that regent. Those documents indicate that Nebuchadnezzar exhibited a particular medical condition that has since been named, and was indeed chained out in the open because of what he would do in his insanity to any room where he was kept. That in itself is remarkable enough, but the courage it took for Daniel to confront Nebuchadnezzar, and then the humility it took for Nebuchadnezzar to write this account after his sanity was restored, are practically without parallel. The lessons we get from this are that humble obedience to God, in preference to your own life, produces great blessings, and hubris is extremely dangerous for any human being. We all need to remember the lesson Nebuchadnezzar was taught the hard way, that God is God and we are at best His instruments.

Since, like practically everyone else on earth, I’ve never had the kind of position and authority Nebuchadnezzar did, I might be tempted to think this was just an interesting story. However, again like everyone else on earth, I am tempted to think I am in control of my own life and the things around me. I need to remember that God is God just as much as Nebuchadnezzar did! That’s not at all to say I’m to be irresponsible, but it is to say I’m to let go of the reins. I’m not in control! Practically all stress comes from the impulse to be in control, when things don’t go as we think they ought to, so my stress level is a clear indication that I’ve got plenty of room to grow in this area! At the moment, that clearly applies to the political situation in the US. I am to pray for God’s will to be done, but I am to trust that it will be and not get tied in knots over it. If I were physically present, political activism might well be in God’s plan for me, but since I’m not, it clearly isn’t. Closer to home, I can’t control how people will act or react, so I am to pray for them and express God’s truth to them in love, and leave the results up to God. I need to trust both that God has a plan and that it is good, and let Him be God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I often butt heads with others who have the same problem of feeling they need to be in control. Help us all recognize our respective areas of responsibility and fulfill those faithfully, not trying to be or do more than You intend. May we all walk in Your peace and joy, delighting to be Your children, doing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!