God is willing to go to great lengths to reveal wisdom to us personally. We are naturally senseless concerning God's wisdom, and we think all we need is for Him to say the word and it will make sense and be agreeable to us. The fact we assume this to be true shows how blind we can be. How many times have we been told the truth and pushed back against it because we could? When there was nothing at stake but our pride we have resisted plain facts because we hate being wrong.
The life of King Nebuchadnezzar provides a useful example of how God is gracious and willing to go to great pains to instruct us. Ironically Nebuchadnezzar was deprived of his sanity for 7 years, becoming in his mind as senseless as a wild beast, incapable of speech or understanding. God warned the king of Babylon concerning his future in a troubling dream, and God also provided Daniel to interpret it for him. God's purposes in removing the king from his throne for 7 years was also explained: so the king would learn God rules over all and gives authority to whom He will. It seemed Daniel saw the fulfilment of the dream as inevitable, but exhorted Nebuchadnezzar to put off his sins, walk righteously, and be merciful to the poor so a period of tranquillity would be prolonged.
A year after this divine revelation, the warning God gave was far from Nebuchadnezzar's mind as he proudly looked upon wealth and splendour of his kingdom. Daniel 4:30-32 states, "The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?" 31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses." Nebuchadnezzar had been judged by words from his own mouth, and God spoke words of judgment. For 7 years the proud king would be humbled without human dignity, yet this long season of ignorance would lead to understanding which would save his soul.
When God graciously restored King Nebuchadnezzar to the throne after 7 years, no longer do we read of him boasting in himself but praising and glorifying God. Looking at the good results of God's patient (and to us unorthodox) plans, what fault can be found in the wonders God does? We hope for change to occur quickly and painlessly as possible, but that is the self-confident part of us which resists all change. Because God loves us He corrects us, and though a refining season be long and distasteful God is a Redeemer and His purposes will be accomplished. We think we can positively change in a moment or in days, but considering examples from scripture we can affirm years and decades are often employed to this end. This proves how patient and longsuffering God is with us. Instead of wiping us from the earth in His displeasure, He slowly and surely sanctifies.
The life of King Nebuchadnezzar provides a useful example of how God is gracious and willing to go to great pains to instruct us. Ironically Nebuchadnezzar was deprived of his sanity for 7 years, becoming in his mind as senseless as a wild beast, incapable of speech or understanding. God warned the king of Babylon concerning his future in a troubling dream, and God also provided Daniel to interpret it for him. God's purposes in removing the king from his throne for 7 years was also explained: so the king would learn God rules over all and gives authority to whom He will. It seemed Daniel saw the fulfilment of the dream as inevitable, but exhorted Nebuchadnezzar to put off his sins, walk righteously, and be merciful to the poor so a period of tranquillity would be prolonged.
A year after this divine revelation, the warning God gave was far from Nebuchadnezzar's mind as he proudly looked upon wealth and splendour of his kingdom. Daniel 4:30-32 states, "The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?" 31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses." Nebuchadnezzar had been judged by words from his own mouth, and God spoke words of judgment. For 7 years the proud king would be humbled without human dignity, yet this long season of ignorance would lead to understanding which would save his soul.
When God graciously restored King Nebuchadnezzar to the throne after 7 years, no longer do we read of him boasting in himself but praising and glorifying God. Looking at the good results of God's patient (and to us unorthodox) plans, what fault can be found in the wonders God does? We hope for change to occur quickly and painlessly as possible, but that is the self-confident part of us which resists all change. Because God loves us He corrects us, and though a refining season be long and distasteful God is a Redeemer and His purposes will be accomplished. We think we can positively change in a moment or in days, but considering examples from scripture we can affirm years and decades are often employed to this end. This proves how patient and longsuffering God is with us. Instead of wiping us from the earth in His displeasure, He slowly and surely sanctifies.
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