Day 3 – It’s just a nightmare, go back to sleep?

Read: Daniel 2: 1- 23

Our culture today doesn’t put much stock in dreams. We try to get past bad dreams and nightmares by putting them out of our minds and thinking of something else. We attribute wild or odd dreams to too much late-night spicy food. If we can’t remember details of last night’s dreams, we don’t get too concerned because we are anxious to get going with the issues of the day. This wasn’t the case during the time in which Daniel lived. Dreams and visions were a big thing and not to be ignored. Nebuchadnezzar had a large group of magicians, sorcerers, and astrologers on staff for the expressed purpose of interpreting his dreams. Unfortunately, for the contingent of Babylonian “wisemen”, he throws them a curve ball and gives them the much more difficult task of coming up with the actual details of the dream.

It seems apparent from the text that Nebuchadnezzar doesn’t even believe in his own system. He probably had an idea that his staff of wisemen were phonies, but it didn’t bother him until it affected his own future and peace of mind. Daniel knows that God has endowed him with a special ability to understand all visions and dreams and so, in light of his faith, he approached the king. The king grants his request for more time to determine and interpret the dream. Daniel and his friends go immediately to the source of their strength and wisdom. They drop to their knees and take the issue to God.
Daniel gives us a great example to follow. As the story unfolds, we see a man who is composed during crisis, courageous before the captain charged with putting him to death, confident before God in prayer, and careful in his success to give praise to the Lord. Surely, God is just waiting to find some other folks who will fall into that same pattern so He can bless them as he blessed Daniel.

Q1: Daniel 1:17 told us that God gave Daniel the ability to understand visions and dreams. Read Daniel 2: 16 – 18. What does Daniel do instead of immediately interpreting the dream for Nebuchadnezzar? What is your usual process when presented with a difficult task?

Q2: Daniel was given the gift of interpretation. What have you identified as your specific gifts from God, and when have you been able to use them?

Q3. God gave Daniel the answer to a very difficult question and in so doing he gave us all a tremendous prophecy about the future of the world. Reflect back on your prayer life and recall one of the times you recognized God’s answer to your prayer. How did you respond to his answer?

Final thought: When faced with a difficult issue or situation, prayer must be the believers’ first action. Once God brings resolution, prayer is the final action to wrap things up. In the middle, just keep praying.