Deep in our hearts we should always be thankful to our loving Father for what He has done for us through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe with all my heart that every single person born on this planet has had, does have, and will have, the opportunity to know about God’s love manifested through His Son. Meditating on Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20–21, we need to ask God to bestow upon us His precious blessings, and prepare us for that great day when Jesus will come in glory to take us home. “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
The Bible relates the account of God’s gracious endeavors to save man from the pit of sin. In this article we will study one of the most wonderful chapters of the Old Testament: the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, the dream of the mighty tree. God comes to us with the tender pity and love of a father and stretches out His hand to rescue us. It is sad to say that so many times His efforts are received with opposition and resistance just as we will see from the example of King Nebuchadnezzar.
In the book of Daniel, chapter 4 we find recorded the event about a man who was called to acknowledge that there is a God up there in Heaven, the Creator of the entire Universe, including earth. Chapter 4 is Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion story—a heathen king transformed by the grace and power of God. This story teaches us that if there is hope for Nebuchadnezzar there is hope for us too. He was wicked, idolatrous, evil and rebellious, but he was transformed by the Lord. The Lord can call your name, and change your life also if you permit Him.
As we look around the world today we see the sad reality of a world in rebellion who is forgetting their Creator and dismissing Him from their lives. Often God reveals Himself to us in surprising ways. Sometimes His taps on the shoulder are gentle and He uses a still small voice to guide us in the right direction.
Lacking faith in God from the youngest to the eldest person, this world is heading towards collapse. People are looking at their leaders who promised them solutions to their problems. Unfortunately many end up in a worse condition. I have never heard one world leader acknowledge the real problem that exists in their country. I assume that they do not know, or if they do they are hesitant to admit it. The reality is that the problem today with this country and the rest of the world, with every nation, every leader, every council, every committee, every assembly or every group that comes together is written in Romans 1:21. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful.” Also in verse 28, they did think it necessary to acknowledge God any longer. This is the problem. The problems in the world are not economic, financial, social, or military-related. The problem is they do not see it necessary to acknowledge God any longer. This is the point the Apostle Paul is bringing out in Romans chapter 1. There is no political answer to the problems in this world unless the world leaders will accept God and His counsel. This is the sad reality of the condition of our world today. Nebuchadnezzar was in the same situation. In his pride he did not recognize his Creator as the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
This unique chapter is the testimony of a Gentile king and how God changed his heart. Nebuchadnezzar is a good example of a person who shares his testimony regarding what he has seen and experienced. In Hebrews 12:6 we read, “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” There are times when God’s voice is very loud. He startles us. He interrupts the routine of our lives. He stops us in our tracks and shakes us up. Our lives may be falling apart, everything may seem to be upside down, but suddenly God surprises us. He breaks into our lives in a remarkable way. As it happened to King Nebuchadnezzar it can happen to you and me.
In Daniel chapter 4 we read a first-person account of what happens to a world ruler who sets himself in opposition to God. This is a powerful example of what happens to those who try to eliminate God from their lives. “Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.” Daniel 4:1. The chapter begins with Nebuchadnezzar wanting to say something internationally. He wants to speak globally, to all the peoples and nations in the then-known world. This is his personal testimony; “I want to tell you all something, all you nations, all you people, all you languages, all you leaders. This is what I want to tell you, words that refer to the miraculous workings of God. I want to declare the miracles which the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs, how mighty are His wonders. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His dominion is from generation to generation.”
This is our wonderful Saviour and Redeemer. He is the God who gives a second chance. Nebuchadnezzar found the source of inner peace that comes only from Jesus. He discovered the One who provides internal stability and calm. Isaiah puts it this way, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3. The king was overflowing with gratitude towards God because his life had been changed. What about you? Has your life been changed and are you full of gratitude also? Do you have inner peace? We have seen already that inner and perfect peace comes only from God. Jesus is the answer if you want to have perfect peace in a trouble world.
Why did Nebuchadnezzar write this chapter? What does he desire to tell us? He says, “I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.” Daniel 4:2. Nebuchadnezzar is a changed man, transformed by the grace of God. He must tell his story, and share the greatness of God who changed his life. If God changed Nebuchadnezzar, He can change your life too.
As I said before, there is a time when God intervenes in our life in a specific way. This was my case and the case of many others. I know what my life was like before I knew Jesus, and I thank God for the transformation He has brought into my life. For this reason I like to share my personal testimony of how Jesus saved me from the pit of sin with every person I meet, wherever I go. I have a few favorite Bible verses that I want to share to encourage you. Although these are Messianic psalms, referring to Jesus, these words can encourage us also. David said; “I will declare Thy Name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise You.” Psalm 22:22. “I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, Thou knowest.” Psalm 40:9. There are many other Bible verses with encouragement to do the same, such as in Hebrews 2:12 “Saying, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee.” The question is: do you have something to say about Jesus your Saviour? Has He changed your life? Do you feel the joy of salvation so much that you cannot keep silent when people are around you?
Nebuchadnezzar describes his life before he came to know God like this, “I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace.” Daniel 4:4. It is extremely easy to become complacent when things are going well in our lives. God allows hardship and adversity into our lives to draw us to Him. By rest he does not mean he removed his sandals and was lying on a couch. He means “I was at rest” in the sense of peace, prosperity, tranquility in his empire. There were no fears. There were no apprehensions. There were no enemies on the border. He had conquered the world, so it seems. He was resting in a time of peace and great prosperity. But, there is a “but” now. “I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.” Daniel 4:5. What was the dream all about that troubled him? “Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew large, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. the leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.” Daniel 4:10–12. Trees, very commonly in ancient times, were used to symbolize great rulers. Ezekiel refers to Pharaoh as a tree. There is a similar reference to an Amorite ruler in Amos 2. But this is only the first part of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The second part is what frightened the king. In verse 13–14 we read, “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one.” It was an angel, or whatever his perception of an angel was, as God delivers this vision to him, “came down from heaven. He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches.” The Lord then even gave Nebuchadnezzar the purpose for this dream “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” Daniel 4:17
Daniel, God’s servant, came in with the interpretation of the vision and you can read of it in Daniel 4:19–27. In the vision of the tree, Nebuchadnezzar saw the collapse of his own reign as king. The cutting down of the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar’s fall from divine favour and the loss of his kingdom. For seven years (seven times) the king would experience an insanity which made him think and act like a wild beast. What a contrast with his former life in the palace. His life was a total disaster; an absolute ruin. There was no place to look, but up. There was no one to turn to, but God.
While I was in Romania I remember how one friend of mine who is a Minister, talked about his brother-in-law who was an unbeliever. Many times this Minister talked about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for sinners, to him. The man seemed not to be interested in what Jesus did for him, however the Pastor never gave up. He continued telling his brother-in-law about God’s love and undeserving mercy towards sinners. Then suddenly, one day, this man fell over a bridge into the water of a fast-flowing river in Romania, landing on his back on a stone. This resulted in the man being paralyzed. The Minister, when he heard about this incident, took a flight from United States where he lived, to Romania, to be with his brother-in-law at this difficult time. He wanted to comfort him and tell him that Jesus still loves him and accepts him just as he is. The Pastor came into the room where the man was lying on his bed and they prayed together. When they finished praying the man that would remain paralyzed for the rest of his life said; “you know, there were many times you wanted to tell me about Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross and I did not have time to listen to you. I was so busy with my work and the worries of this life. Many times you wanted to let me know about this Jesus you love and proclaimed about, and I looked down to the ground just waiting for you to finish the conversation. But, now after what had happened to me I understood one thing. . .” With tears in his eyes he said, “ . . . I know Jesus loves me too much to renounce me, because when I was well I did not find time for Him, and now He has shown me how to look to Him at all times for the rest of my life.”
This was a tragic accident but at the same time this is a great lesson we can learn in this life. Remember, whom Jesus loves He rebukes and chastens. Why not come to Jesus when He calls you today? I am sure that when Jesus calls you now it is the best time to come to Him, just as you are. The Lord invites you to come to Him today. In Him we find the security we long for. Life is so fragile. Our jobs, our homes, our marriages, and our health provide little security. They all can be whisked away in a moment. In Jesus, and only in Jesus, can we find strength, meaning and purpose in our lives.
Would you like to flee to His loving arms today? Would you like to feel His warm embrace and listen to His reassuring voice saying; “You are Mine. I will never let you go?” May our loving Father melt your heart with His love and care through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is my wish and prayer. Amen!
God bless you!
Nicolas Anca