NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S JOURNEY TO GOD

Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king of the Babylonian empire, which rose to prominence around 600BC. The Bible recounts an interesting account of how the despotic and grandest king of the most glorious empire in those days was led on a discovery of the greater God.

1. WITNESS: Among the Jews who were exiled to Babylon to learn the Babylonian way of life was a young Jew by the name of Daniel. Little did Nebuchadnezzar realize Daniel would be teaching him much more about the true God than the knowledge his wise men would impart Daniel. And so while Daniel set about learning the Babylonian culture, he also resolved not to defile himself with the ways of the Babylonian lifestyle and remain true to God. Daniel was made to prosper under God and there was no match for his knowledge and skills. Daniel’s unique gift of understanding visions and dreams from God took him to the royal court where while interpreting the king’s dreams, he witnessed about God’s surpassing greatness. So strong was the witness that the king remarked,“Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries” (Daniel 2:47). No one ever hears of God lest someone tells them. A witness is powerful because he tells his story and regardless of what you think about God, no one can deny what God has done for a particular person.
2. HUMBLING: As time goes by, Nebuchadnezzar sets up an image of gold of himself and decreed that every person should bow down and worship that image. Daniel’s associates, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to do so because once you know the true God and his supremacy, you can worship no one else. Furious with rage, the king orders that they be burnt in a furnace, but is humbled to find that his punitive efforts are shown to be puny in doing any harm to the three. God protects them through the furnace and they come out unscathed. Nebuchadnezzar receives a fresh input of the greatness of the true God and demonstrates advancement in his understanding of God, “Praise be to the God—– who sent his angel and rescued his servants” (Daniel 3:28). Man is finite and lest he forgets, he will be humbled by the infinite sovereignty of God.
3. SUFFERING: As the years go by, Nebuchadnezzar is again troubled by a dream and Daniel interprets the dream and forewarns the king that the sovereign God who controls all things, has decreed that the king would be driven away from his kingdom and people unless he renounces all sin. The king refuses to hearken and finds himself affected with lunacy for 7 years and goes into exile. He finally regains his kingdom only when he lifts up his eyes to heaven and praises the Most High. His remarks indicate an intimate knowledge of God, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:37). Suffering is a loudspeaker for God and it is in those darkest moments that the greatest light is shed on our souls.

If one of the greatest kings of all time could find God, can it be too difficult for us to retrace his steps?

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