Daily Devotional

Though King Nebuchadnezzar had experienced a calamity, the outcome was a miracle of transformation instead of a tragedy of stubborn unwillingness to be transformed. Once proud and egotistical, the ruler of the Babylonian empire had become a humble child of God.

The exact timing of Nebuchadnezzar’s mental breakdown was not foretold, yet there is no mistaking that God places a limit on wickedness. In the king’s case, when that limit was reached, the prophesied calamity fell like a sledgehammer.

Nebuchadnezzar forfeited the year-long opportunity to profit from the warning that he had been graciously given in vision by God and confirmed by Daniel’s plain interpretation. He also passively pushed aside Daniel’s excellent counsel, defaulting into nurturing the pride within his selfish heart until it reached a fever pitch, beyond which God could not allow it to continue.

Daniel’s advice, for a brief time—perhaps a few weeks or months—left a strong impression upon Nebuchadnezzar. But the resistant heart that wills against being transformed by God’s grace soon loses the gentle impressions of the Holy Spirit.

Beloved, the LORD has many lessons for us that do not have to be learned “the hard way”. Many of the hardships that we suffer are self-inflicted and entirely avoidable! God’s word is a character-molding library of priceless lessons, all given in love.

The visions of this dream given to King Nebuchadnezzar were only that—visions—at the time. They were graciously given as a warning against continuing in disregard of the Most High.