Story 4: The Giver of Dreams
Daniel 2:1-23
Daniel and his friends were probably still teenagers when a great problem arose for the wise men of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. It was powerful and vivid, and he knew it had special meaning. He knew it told something important about the future, something mighty and great. It filled his mind, and he was desperate to discover the right interpretation. It bothered him so much, in fact, that he could not sleep. Something terrible seemed to have happened, and it made him very afraid. He called together all of his royal advisors; the magicians and astrologers and wise men of Babylon and asked them to tell him what his dream meant.
“’Oh king, live forever!’” they exclaimed. “’Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it!’” (NIV).
But King Nebuchadnezzar did not trust these advisors. There was treachery in his dream. What if they were part of the reason bad things were about to happen? What if they were plotting against them? He would not give these men any information that would help them see his weaknesses. He decided he would not tell them the frightening images that might give them power and insight over him. If they really had special powers, he shouldn’t have to tell them what happened in the dream. Their powers and their gods should be able to make the dream clear so they tell him what happened first! Then he could trust them to interpret it!
Nebuchadnezzar looked at the enchanters and astrologers of the land and said, “’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 house 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 honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me’” (NIV).
Nebuchadnezzar’s advisors were shocked and afraid. They knew the king could be very cruel, and he was very serious about this threat. If they did not give him what he wanted, they were going to die and their homes would be destroyed. How in the world could they tell Nebuchadnezzar the dream he had in his own head? They asked again, “’Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.’”
The king said, “‘I am sure that you are just asking to hear what was in the dream so you can have more time. You will give me a made-up answer that is wrong so that your lives will not be in danger! But if you can tell me what the dream was first, I will know that your interpretation is also true.’”
Nebuchadnezzar’s astrologers and sorcerers and magicians said, “’There is no man on earth that is able to do what you ask! It is too difficult! Only the gods can do this, and they do not live here among humans!’”
This made King Nebuchadnezzar furious. If he had listened to Isaiah, the prophet of Yahweh, he would not have been surprised that his wise men were so helpless. Over a hundred years before, Isaiah had warned Babylon:
“ ’…Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. Here are no coals to warm anyone; here is no fire to sit by. That is all they can do for you-these you have labored and trafficked with since childhood. Each one of them goes on in his error; there is not one that can save you.’”
In the hour of Nebuchadnezzar’s great need, he was learning how true this was. So he issued a judgment, or decree, that would put a tremendous burden of pressure on all of the wise men in Babylon. If they did not come to him and explain his dream, they would all be put to death. He sent out Arioch, an executioner of the king, to proclaim the terrible news.
Arioch went to look for Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to have them killed with all the rest. They had been trained among the wise men of Babylon, and so they were joined in their judgment!
The Lord had given Daniel great wisdom. Through his steadfast faithfulness, Daniel had learned to do the exact right thing in each situation to bring about the best possible good. When Arioch came to him, he did not hide or get angry and violent. He spoke to Arioch with respect and honor. He asked him why such a harsh decree had been sent out from the king. And when he learned about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he went to the king himself. Daniel asked Nebuchadnezzar for time to learn the meaning of the dream. He was sure that the God of Israel could make it clear. The king granted his request and stopped the massacre of the wise men until Daniel returned. The godliness of Daniel was a protection even for the pagan wizards of Babylon.
Daniel returned back home and told his friends what was going on. He asked them to cry out in prayer to the God of Heaven for mercy and insight so that they might be saved. The four men bowed before the Lord together, poured out in prayer, seeking His help, and He heard their cry. In the night, God gave Daniel a vision that showed him the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He was given not only what happened in the dream, but everything it meant as well. Daniel praised God for His gracious help. Their lives had been saved. They would not be cut to pieces! Here is the beautiful prayer of praise that Daniel sang to God:
“’Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are His,
He changes times and seasons;
He sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with Him.
I thank and praise You, O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and power,
You have made known to me what we asked of you,
You have made known to us the dream of the king.’”