Pressing Forward

• Took people captive from another nation
• Thought he was a god and built a big gold statue of himself for people to worship
• Became extremely proud
• Ordered people to be burned in a fiery furnace if they didn’t worship him

Doesn’t sound too much like someone God was working through, does it?  But it was.  Meet King Nebuchadnezzar.  Besides having a name you can stump anyone with in a spelling bee, he has an ultimate purpose from God that included some things that didn’t necessarily seem “Godly.”  You could look into his life and think he’s a horrible person, but then you would realize that in the end, God used it for His (God) good.

Look at Daniel 4:34-37:

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”

36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 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.

These are the last words we read about this king in the book of Daniel.  And it shows the king’s change of heart and his realization that God is sovereign and over all things.  God was using those things that most would think were bad to do much good.

Consider this verse- Romans 8:28:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Everything in this life that happens is allowed by God for some reason.  Especially in the light of September 11 yesterday, many struggle to understand why God would let tragedies happen.  There are reasons for calamaties- namely, peoples’ sin- but in all things, God can work it out for good.

Even Nebuchadnezzar’s actions resulted in good.  Look at the life of Daniel and what he was able to do as an exile in this king’s government.

The point is this- see through those tough times in your life to see the sovereignty of God, and anticipate the lessons and the good that will come from them.