Recently I read of a certain well-known governor who made an interesting statement as the number of COVID-19 cases began to stabilize. He said, “The number is down because we brought the number down. God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that . . . That’s how it works. It’s math.”
It brings to my mind a king by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. This particular account of him is in the book of Daniel in the Bible. You may be familiar with some things about Daniel. Maybe you’ll remember reading about the Lions’ Den or the Fiery Furnace. If you have ever used the expression “The handwriting on the wall”, you were referencing this specific Old Testament book.
Our man Daniel was also an interpreter of dreams. The king called on Daniel to interpret one of his dreams and he told the king that the king would live like an animal until such time as he would recognize God as ruler over all. There was no set timetable but it would happen, if the king did not change his ways.
Sure enough, one year later the king was walking around on the palace roof and he said, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” A Voice from heaven proceeded to tell him that what Daniel had said was about to come true. As a result of his pride and arrogance, not recognizing Who it is that establishes kingdoms, he would live with the beasts of the field and even eat grass like cattle. This would continue until he recognized God as the true ruler of mankind.
Attributing what one has accomplished as having nothing to do God, did not go well for Nebuchadnezzar. Am I suggesting that someone who is observing a plague as it begins to subside and says, “God did not do that” will wind up eating grass in front of the Capital Building? Not really. But I might not want to be standing next to him in a lightning storm.
After seven years of grazing with the cows, Nebuchadnezzar “raised [his] eyes to heaven” and his reason returned to him. He then declared in his own words, “I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever“. Soon after we read that his kingdom and all his earthly glory was restored to him.
God is in the business still today of forgiveness and restoration today. Maybe one of these days you’ll see that famous governor in your church with hands held high, blessing the Most High.
