Job Description

Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.  He didn’t like it. It upset him quite a bit.  So, he called for help:

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. (Daniel 2:3-5 KJV)

There’s a movie out about bad bosses, but even they don’t match this.  Not only did the wise men of his country need to tell him what the dream meant, they needed to tell him the dream!  His advisors told him what people need to tell some bosses today:

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. (Daniel 2:10-11 KJV)

“Can’t deliver, Neb, old boy.”  Apparently he accepted their word – and it applied to all in that job description – for the order went out to kill:

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:12 KJV)

For once, being a dummy was a very good thing! Unfortunately, Daniel and his three companions were very wise men.  Wise enough that Daniel received an audience with the king, gave a convincing presentation, then went home.

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:17-18 KJV)

It would be wise for men today to desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning everything in our lives.  Placing our future in His hands is the wisest thing any of us can do – and we find endless ways to keep from doing just that, don’t we?

God revealed the secret – He told Daniel not only what the dream was, but what it meant.  Daniel praised God for giving him the answer to their prayers.  Again, we find endless ways to keep from doing just that, don’t we?

What did our old boy Neb do?

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. (Daniel 2:47 KJV)

Good for him!!  Acknowledging God is always a good response to His gifts.  Daniel came out OK, too:

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:48 KJV)

Please don’t expect to be made chief of the governors!!  But do take time to follow Daniel’s example.  Learn for yourself what trusting in the Lord can provide in your life.  And, be ready -- there’s a lot more about this king in the coming weeks.