Big Idea - Since the beginning of time, people have believed that there is a god or gods in the heavens who have power over the earth. Religion is our attempt to understand who these gods are, what they are like, and, most importantly, how we can communicate with them in order to get their help. In modern times, people have come to a more scientific understanding of the universe, and there is now the sense that we know how it all works and we can control the world based on scientific knowledge, so we no longer need the gods, and there is no proof of their existence. But even science has to admit that the universe had a beginning and, therefore, has to have a source. The order and intelligent design of the universe point to a designer - a god who created it. It brings us back to the same question - is there a god beyond us? If so, what do we need to know about this god? Of course, there are many religions and many theories about this god, or gods. In the end, the real question is not the question of the existence of god but how we can know. How can we be certain we have the right information about god and the right understanding of what he wants from us? When we come to Daniel chapter 2 this is exactly the question King Nebuchadnezzar is struggling with. He has had a dream, and he is convinced it is a message from the gods. He is surrounded by wisemen and experts who claim to know how to communicate with the gods, but the King is not confident that they really know. He wants proof. He wants to be certain that they are really hearing from the gods and not just making things up. So, he puts them to a test. The test is simple: if you really can communicate with the gods, then they can tell you my dream as well as give you its interpretation. If you cannot tell me the dream, you are just making things up! Nebuchadnezzar's question is significant and one we all need to answer. How do we know we have the right god? How can we be certain our understanding of God is correct, and we aren't just making things up? How can we know?
When it becomes a matter of life and death, and their very life is hanging in the balance, the wise men of Babylon have to admit that they really do not know how to communicate with the gods. The problem, they point out, is that the dwelling of the gods is not with flesh - they don't live on earth! They live far beyond us, and therefore, it is impossible to communicate with them. Since that is the case, the King decides they are worthless and declares off with their heads! But Daniel has a very different view of the gods. He believes in the God of the Heavens, which is a code name for the one true God, the God of his forefathers, the God of Israel. What makes this god unique and radically different from all the other gods is that this God has made himself known. He is a God who is a god of revelation. He has taken the initiative to reveal Himself to us, and we can, therefore, know Him. He communicates with us, and we can talk with Him and seek His help and mercy simply by asking in prayer! But how can we know Daniel was right? The same way Nebuchadnezzar came to be convinced - because He reveals mysteries and secrets that no human being could know! Not only in revealing the King's dream, but Scripture is full of revelation about God and about the unfolding events of history that are supernatural and beyond what any human being could know. We can trust the Bible as a source of revelation from and about God because it can be put the test of truth. Did the prophecies of the Bible come to pass? The answer is an overwhelming yes! In fact, the king's dream was such an accurate picture of world history many skeptics are convinced the book of Daniel had to be written after the events took place and not before. But, there is growing proof that Daniel knew too much about Babylon to be written 500 years later. Most significantly, the great skeptic Nebuchadnezzar was absolutely convinced, so much so that he bowed down before Daniel and worshiped his God! He also rewards Daniel and places him in one of the highest positions of leadership in his government! In the end, we see that the wise men of Babylon, along with every other man-made religion, falls short because they fail to recognize the revelation of God that He has given to us. Most importantly they were wrong about the fact that God does not dwell with flesh. The greatest revelation of God and proof that He is real and we can know is found in Jesus, who is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God, who did come to earth and showed us in real life who God is. He has ascended to heaven, but He sent the Holy Spirit so that the triune God can make His home, His dwelling, with us personally. Like the king, this personal, direct revelation from God should cause us to bow before Him in awe and wonder and the deepest worship!
