“It’s hot,” they say. Some say it’s climate change. Others say, “It’s just hot.” I don’t know why. I just know it’s not cold.
If you consider the history of the Jewish captives in Babylon, especially Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, we don’t know the real meaning of “hot.” If we think of Daniel in the lion’s den or the Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace and if we’re thinking for the sake of imagination, we might be able to consider what is hot.
How about this? Suppose you’re having a big problem that is beyond solving without some help. Just suppose the help you got doesn’t know how to solve the problem either. What do you do? Do you seek other consultation? Do you ask a friend? Where am I going to seek sound advice and further getting to reaching an answer with a solution which will keep me from getting into further trouble?
King Nebuchadnezzar had such a problem. He had a dream, which he had no solution. It was not the first time he had a dream. But, this time things were different. He was deeply troubled by this “frightening dream.”
Although the king knew he had a troubling dream, he didn’t remember the dream. Therefore, he could not even tell his magicians, sorcerers and other witchcraft working officials what the dream was! His menagerie of magicians who he called wisemen were helpless to interpret the dream because he didn’t even know what it was.
They wanted time to think about it. The king said, “No! You just want some time so that you can dream up some kind of answer.” Apparently, the king had become accustomed to giving them time and accepting their interpretation. This time it appears that he has come into clear thinking and realizing what they had been doing and their conjuring method was no longer tolerated.
Nebuchadnezzar was beside himself and promised to kill the magicians and their families if they didn’t interpret his dream. Daniel heard about the edict of the king that they should all be destroyed, including Daniel and his friends too. Daniel and his friends faced an indomitable task. Daniel faced a lifetime decision. How did he deal with this?
Daniel had a special gift of how to speak to people who were high up. God had also put in the heart of the eunuch to show favor to Daniel. Daniel approached the problem as a very serious problem, but now one which could not be solved. You see the difference with Daniel and his friends was they had a background of how they were raised and educated. In addition, they had special training in the Babylonian culture.
With the godly background, Daniel could gain favor with the king and others around him. Most ordinary people might fold and run away from such a daunting task. Isn’t it interesting to see that this idolatrous king still saw that “something special in Daniel and his friends. The king received a good reference too that Daniel could interpret dreams above all others. Daniel was very wise.
He sought the assistance of his friends by talking to them about the problem and they all prayed. Daniel could trust their participation. When Daniel and his friends were saved by trusting with unwavering faith their God and their faith. He knew they had “a winning ticket” to safety and protection.
Daniel went back to talk to the king with the surprising message that he knew the king’s dream and the interpretation too. What’s the answer to the conundrum? Whether Nebuchahnazzar was for real or not when he confessed the one true God, that we may be unsure of.
However, hold on to your faith. Do not waver. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not be deceived by using only your own advice. Trust in the Lord with every ounce of faith. Don’t let go. In and of ourselves, we just don’t have the wherewithal to singular solve our problems, neither the simple nor the complex. We need the Lord at all times.
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Errors? Or Questions? Please let me know. Join Sundays for music and message at 11:30 a.m. by calling (712) 775-8971, code 266751. Don’t stop praying and hoping. References: The Holy Bible, StudyLight.org, New American Standard, Daniel 1 and 2. “Today is another great day to do good and be successful.”
