Articles
Seeing God Humbly
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a cow? It’s interesting to think if King Nebuchadnezzar ever wondered the same thing. But whether he did or didn’t, he got the first-hand experience of what it might be like.
Daniel 4:29-33 says, “He was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, ‘Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?’ While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.’ Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.” Nebuchadnezzar might not have been a cow, but God turned him into a grass-eating beast. This was Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment for not recognizing that God was the one who made the Babylonians mighty enslavers of the Israelites as punishment for their sins (Jer. 25:8-11). Under Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians had achieved what many nations of the past couldn’t, to defeat the Israelites. Since the nation of Babylon was an idol-worshipping nation as well, Nebuchadnezzar had a perfect storm for his pride to boast about the glory that should have been given to God. He only received his body back after he heartfully recognized the Lord.
Daniel 4:34-37 says, “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever…At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” It is great that King Nebuchadnezzar had a change of heart about God after he was punished by turning into a beast. However, his reverence for God only went so far because he and his kingdom were idol worshippers. Evidence of this can be seen when God punishes his son Belshazzar (Daniel 5), for being just like his father. In the end, they both failed to humble themselves before God and had a spiritual heart that was opposite of the apostle Paul’s.
Philippians 3:4-8 reads, “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” After God punished Paul on the road to Damascus by causing him to lose his eyesight, he dared to set aside his old life to follow Him properly. As followers of God now, He most likely will not punish us by turning us into beasts of the field or having us go blind. However, the consequences of sin are no less serious. Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-41, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory…he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left…Then, he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” As we go through this life, let us encourage each other to be humble and always give Him the glory He deserves.
