It’s all about how you react

In Chapter 2 of the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar has a disturbing dream. Fortunately for him, he is surrounded by wise men more than willing to interpret his dream for him.

So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed.  Daniel 2:2

Unfortunately for them, King Nebuchadnezzar is sceptical about their abilities and asked that they reveal to him the content of his dream alongside the interpretation. And because he is king, the stakes are high –

“This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honour. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”  Daniel 2:5-6

Twice they ask “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” and then admit “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks!”

Because the king is king, in his anger, he orders that ALL the wise men in Babylon be put to death because of this. ALL the wise men. That includes Daniel and his friends.

When Arioch, commander of the king’s guard approaches Daniel, Daniel speaks to him with wisdom and tact. Which I imagine was not the response of any of the other wise men. This reaction immediately set him apart.

Wisdom and tact.

Daniel goes to the king who grants him time to interpret the dream. His friends beg him to plead for mercy before God. They’re not convinced he can do this.

But Daniel is. During the night, he receives the interpretation and his immediate response? He praises God for His wisdom and power and thanks Him for giving him the wisdom and power he needs in this moment.

Daniel goes to the King and does not take credit for what he has done. He immediately gives the glory to God. Which is risky in itself. Daniel does not claim to have great wisdom in himself – he is merely a channel for God’s wisdom.

“No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”  Daniel 2:28

Daniel describes a huge statue with different sections made out of different metals. The a rock smashes the whole statue to pieces and the rock becomes a massive mountain. King Nebuchadnezzar is the king of kings. The God of heaven has given him dominion and power and glory and might. He is the head of gold. Other kingdoms will follow – other lesser kingdoms, the last a divided kingdom. And then God will send a kingdom that can never be destroyed that will crush all the other kingdoms. And this kingdom will endure forever.

What kind of courage does it take to reveal this interpretation to a king?!

But the king recognises that Daniel is someone special. He falls to the ground before him and presents offerings to him.

“Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”  Daniel 2:47

He places Daniel in a high position as ruler over the whole province of Babylon and over all the other wise men. All the wise men are spared.

All’s well that ends well.

For now.

And all I could think as I read through all this was ‘It’s all about how you react.’

Daniel didn’t choose to leave his home and life in Jerusalem.

He didn’t choose to be taken there.

He didn’t choose to be selected for this training programme.

He didn’t choose to be considered one the wise men of Babylon.

But in every situation he found himself, he worked diligently to be the best he could be. He served His God wherever he was and whatever he was called to do.

His whole life was about trust and obedience.

So when the commander of the guard comes to kill him and his friends, he does not respond out of fear but with wisdom and tact.

When he comes before the King, he is respectful but bold.

He has confidence in the one true God.

When God reveals the dream to him, he immediately praises God and thanks Him for His wisdom and power.

When he explains to the King, he first of all gives credit to God for the interpretation.

Everything about Daniel’s life points to his God.

He speaks with confidence and clarity and courage. He does what he has to do and says what he has to say.

Nebuchadnezzar is in danger of getting it wrong. He’s in danger of worshipping the man and not the God. But Daniel is only ever a vessel for God’s wisdom and power. Daniel knows that. He’s not ever going to forget that.

So as I said ‘It’s all about how you react.’

It’s all about the response.

We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we act.

Towards others and towards God.