Lessons On Living

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 1:6-7

Changed Names

Daniel 1:6–7

Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

Changed Names

Some people assume new names to disguise their identity. For example, Samuel Langhorne Clemens took the pen name of Mark Twain. Mary Ann Evans took the masculine pen name of George Eliot. Other people change their names when they move to a new country to make them more pronounceable. For example, de Revoire became Revere, and Yitzchak became Hitchcock. Yet others feel a different name will make them more memorable. Thus, Erich Weiss became Harry Houdini, and Betty Joan Perske is better known as Lauren Bacall.

Ashpenaz, the chief of the eunuchs, also desired to change the names of the young men taken from Jerusalem. After all, it just wouldn't do to have people serving in Nebuchadnezzar's court with names like Daniel ("God is my judge"), Hananiah ("Jehovah was favored"), Mishael ("who is like God") and Azariah ("strengthened by Jehovah"). These names honored the God of Israel, so Ashpenaz changed them to reflect Babylonian gods. Daniel became Belteshazzar ("Bel protect his life"), Hananiah was called Shadrach ("command of Akur"), Azariah became Abed-Nego ("servant of Nebo"), and Mishael was renamed Meshach (a possible corruption of the name Maraduk, another Babylonian deity).

Society today is also good at changing the name of things that honor God. Having standards is now called intolerance. Taking a stand for what you believe is understood as fanaticism. The change works the other way as well. Adultery is called an affair. Drunkenness is now alcoholism. But don't be taken in by a change in names. God's principles haven't changed.

Guide your life by God's Word, and you will be pleasing to the Lord no matter what the world calls it. After all, what's in a name? Not much if God isn't in it.

Changing the name doesn't change the truth.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 1:8

Committed to Purity

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Committed to Purity

Some hunters are totally sold out to hunting. They suffer all kinds of discomfort in order to enjoy their hobby. Many sports fans are totally absorbed by games, whether baseball, football or soccer or anything else. Whatever else might be taking place, they're in the stands or in front of the TV rooting for their favorite team. Likewise, some businessmen can think of nothing but their business. Everything takes second place to being successful in their chosen profession.

But Daniel was sold out in a different way. He was totally committed to maintaining his purity. The drink and rich foods of Babylon in all probability were very tasty, but, prepared by pagan cooks, they surely would not have met the strict Jewish dietary laws. To have eaten these delicacies would have caused Daniel and his friends ritual impurity. And in Daniel's heart, the culinary pleasures he might have enjoyed were not worth the price of moral pollution.

Today we live in a time of gross immorality. We live in a sea of sensual indulgence. Sex appeal is used to promote everything from cars to shoes. Images that would have made our grandparents blush are brazenly displayed on billboards. Standards that once protected society from its own carnal appetites have been long abandoned. Therefore, it's more important than ever that those who follow Christ commit themselves to maintaining their purity, as Daniel did.

Resolve in your own heart, even before you face temptation, that you will make purity your highest priority. Expect to be tempted, but determine that, with God's help, you will stay undefiled and never waver. The short-lived pleasures of immorality are not worth the price.

When purity is not a priority it is a casualty.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 1:14-15

Honoring God

Daniel 1:14–15

So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenance appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies.

Honoring God

Eric Liddell, a young Scottish ministerial student, was the best sprinter in the British Empire. He was favored to win the 100-meter race in the 1924 Paris Olympics. A few weeks before the Games, however, he learned that the preliminary 100-meter races were scheduled for a Sunday afternoon. Liddel considered participating in Sunday sports dishonoring to the Lord. His friends then began to notice during the weeks prior to the Olympics that he excused himself after dinner each evening and would return home hours later, exhausted.

A few weeks later the whole world discovered his secret. He had spent those evening hours practicing for another event that was scheduled for a weekday but which required a different type of speed and endurance. On the closing day of the Olympics, he stood on the winner's platform and received the Gold Medal as the 400-meter champion. By putting God's honor first, Liddel himself received honor.

Daniel was faced with a similar choice. To him and his friends, partaking of the king's refreshments would be shameful before the Lord. Bravely they chose to honor God. When they did so, God honored them. After ten days of eating only vegetables, they were in better condition than those who had eaten of the king's food.

The pressure to compromise is tremendous. Many people tell us that unless we choose to follow the world's standards, we'll never get ahead. If we don't drink socially, we'll never rub elbows with the influential people who can make our business a success. If we aren't willing to engage in premarital sex, we'll never meet a potential marriage partner.

Obviously, Satan skews such thinking. If we choose to honor God with our lives, He will honor us by meeting our needs. Put God's honor first, and your honor will never suffer.

Honor God and He will never dishonor you.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 2:8-10 Jeremiah 32:27 Daniel 2:5

No Man on Earth

Daniel 2:8–10

The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation." The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean."

No Man on Earth

In the realm of fairy tales, straw is spun into gold, frogs turn into Prince Charmings, and pumpkins become royal coaches with mice for footmen. But these things are not possible in our world. Human beings in the real world have limitations.

Such limitations caused problems for the wise men of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed a disturbing dream. Immediately he issued a call for his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans. Not trusting these advisers to give him a true answer, however, he demanded they first tell him the dream and then interpret it. If they didn't, he said, they would be cut in pieces and their houses would be made an ash heap (2:5). Of course, their response was, "No ruler has ever asked such a thing!" This was an impossible request.

Often in our world we encounter things that are simply impossible. No man on earth can do them. Fortunately, as believers in Christ, our resources extend beyond earthly man; we have a Heavenly Father. God can do what no man can do. He said of Himself, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jer. 32:27).

Are you facing an impossible task today? Is there trouble in your life that is greater than any person on earth can resolve? Then look to God. He can do what others cannot. He'll do it for you.

God can do anything but fail.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 2:11 John 1:14 Acts 17:28

God With Us

Daniel 2:11

"It is a difficult thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

God With Us

A farmer was plowing his field when he noticed a very large anthill out in the middle of the field. It was evident that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of ants had worked long and hard to build this magnificent edifice. Now, in a short time, his plow would destroy it, along with many of the ants that lived there. I wonder, he thought, how I might communicate with them. I could write them a letter, but they couldn't read it. I could stand near their home and urge them to flee from destruction. But they wouldn't understand me. Then he realized there was really only one solution—he would have to become an ant and dwell among them.

The gods the Babylonians worshiped were deities who kept themselves apart from their worshipers. At best, they communicated only through the priests and priestesses who served them in the temples. It took the true God to devise a meaningful way to communicate with His people. John 1:14 tells us, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Christians have the privilege of communicating with a God who is not way off in some distant place. Instead, He is as near as our next breath (Acts 17:28). We don't have to go to a special place to speak with Him; He dwells in us and delights to fellowship with us. By becoming one of us and dying for our sins, He has made it possible for us to carry every burden to Him and leave it there.

Rejoice that God wrapped Himself in human flesh and dwelt among us. Give thanks that He is only a prayer away. Whatever question or concern you may have, come to Him. His Word and His Spirit are always available to help you find the answer.

God is so near that the faintest prayer can reach Him.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 2:12-14

Speaking Without Anger

Daniel 2:12–14

For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave a command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

Speaking Without Anger

Anger has become a major problem in our society, especially when associated with driving. Between 1990 and 1997, 250,000 people were killed in traffic accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that two-thirds of these road fatalities were caused by drivers who were angry. They not only lost their temper, but they lost their lives as well.

When Daniel was confronted with the king's edict, it could have given way to anger. The king's demands were unreasonable. Who ever heard of telling the dream as well as giving the interpretation? Furthermore, it was unfair. Why destroy all the wise men when not everyone had been given the opportunity to redeem himself? But Daniel knew better than to give way to such futile passions. Instead, he answered with "counsel and wisdom."

To his credit, Daniel first sought information. He checked out the facts to find out what lay behind this seemingly unreasonable edict. Then he spoke with wisdom. Daniel took the time to understand the situation and then offered a practical solution that would both meet the king's need and save the lives of many innocent people.

Anger can be terribly devastating, especially for Christians. Not only do they suffer the same consequences unbelievers do when they lose their temper, but they also tarnish their testimony before a watching world.

If you struggle with anger, learn to seek counsel and then speak with wisdom. Get the facts straight. Give yourself time to think about the consequences of your anger. And then, rather than waste your energy on a fit of rage and bring shame to the Lord, ask God to show you how you can resolve the situation for His glory.

Anger isn't always wrong, but it's seldom profitable.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 2:20-21

He Removes Kings

Daniel 2:20–21

Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding."

He Removes Kings

Robert Ingersoll, a 19th-century American politician and atheist, said, "The universe is all the God there is." Ingersoll lectured widely about his belief that God did not exist. Yet Ingersoll is gone and God is still here. Bertrand Russell, a British philosopher and social critic, proclaimed, "My own view on religion is that it is a disease born of fear and is a source of untold misery to the human race." Russell has stepped into eternity and is no doubt rethinking his view.

Daniel realized that even powerful dictators like King Nebuchadnezzar are no match for the omnipotent, omniscient God of the universe. Though they swagger in their own self-importance, the time comes when God removes them and raises up others to take their place. As the seasons of nature come and go, so even the most authoritarian leaders pass from the scene. Though they may seem to hold the power of life or death over millions, they themselves are subject to the desires of Him who holds their lives in His hand.

The pages of history are filled with individuals who have either denied or defied the God of heaven and earth. Yet without exception, they have been confronted with the realization that they were only mortal and posed no real threat to God. While they confidently basked in the power of their independence, God retained the ability to lift them up or cast them down.

Do not fear those who mock God. They have no more power than what God will allow. When you hear someone railing on God, remember that it is only divine grace that keeps that person from destruction. If God were not so good, atheists would have no opportunity to talk.

Man's decisions seem final until God decides otherwise.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 2:28

Mysteries Revealed

Daniel 2:28

"But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these."

Mysteries Revealed

Many people love a good mystery story. With avid interest they follow the twists and turns of plots woven by such master mystery writers as Agatha Christie or Mary Higgins Clark. Yet there comes a point when the mystery needs to be revealed. Who really did it? Was it the butler? Perhaps the jilted lover? Maybe the upstairs maid? Unless the mystery is revealed, the whole point of the story is lost.

God never leaves a mystery unresolved either. As Daniel was faced with the need to unravel the strange and disturbing dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, God supplied the answers. What could not be known by any other means, God revealed to Daniel at the appropriate time. Nothing is hidden from God's sight; no answers are beyond His understanding. When the need to know is there, God always provides the information.

Life is filled with mysteries. We ask ourselves, Why did this young missionary die in a car accident? On the surface, it appears to be a mystery. Why did I develop cancer while an ungodly neighbor lives a long and healthy life? The answer doesn't seem obvious. Why was my child born with birth defects while my friend's child is healthy? There are no easy explanations.

If you are struggling with a mystery, if you have more questions than answers, wait patiently. It's hard, but you must believe that God will not keep the answer hidden forever. A day will come, perhaps on earth or maybe in heaven, when you will understand. Some day all the mysteries that plague us, all the plaintive wails of "Why?" will be answered. Until then, trust the Divine Writer. At just the right time, He'll reveal the secret.

God is a God of revelation, not a God of secrets.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 2:44

The Forever Kingdom

Daniel 2:44

"And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

The Forever Kingdom

Three huge gates lead into the Cathedral of Milan in Italy. Over one gate is an inscription in marble under a beautiful floral bouquet that says, "The things that please us are temporary." Over another gate is a cross with the inscription, "The things that disturb us are temporary." Over the central gate, however, is a large inscription that says, "The things that are important are eternal."

As Daniel shared with Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation of the king's dream, he revealed that God had shown him that many kingdoms would rise and fall. As mighty and magnificent as Babylon was under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, it would someday be replaced by an even more magnificent kingdom. Yet even this kingdom would come to an end, and others would rise after it. Finally, however, God would set up His kingdom, which would last forever.

It's so easy to get caught up in things that are here today but gone tomorrow. They look so solid and permanent, yet they are temporary and inconsequential. Thus, we find ourselves chasing changing fads and grasping at straws as they are blown about by the wind. Only when we fix our hearts and minds on the things of God do we find true stability. God's kingdom will never end.

Don't waste your time on things that are only temporary. Neither your pleasures nor your problems will last forever. Count on it. Fix your mind on things that are above and invest in things that are eternal. When you look to God and His kingdom, you look to what really matters.

Don't let a fascination with the temporal diminish your focus on the eternal.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 3:17-18

The Consequence of Obedience

Daniel 3:17–18

"If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

The Consequence of Obedience

A recently licensed pilot was flying his private plane on a cloudy day. He was not very experienced yet in instrument landing. When the control tower began to bring him in for a landing, he started thinking about all the hills, towers and buildings in that area. Suddenly he began to panic. How would he be able to miss these things if he couldn't see them? In a calm but stern voice the air traffic controller said, "You just obey instructions; we'll take care of the obstructions."

This was the testimony of Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. They trusted their God to take care of the obstructions. The three obviously would not have chosen to be burned up in a fiery furnace—who would? But they knew that could be the consequence of their absolute obedience to God. The commandments given to Moses centuries before on Mount Sinai clearly forbade the Jews from worshiping an idol. Their instructions were clear. Their responsibility was obedience; God's responsibility was to take care of the consequences in whatever way He deemed best.

Christians have an equally clear set of instructions. Not only do we have the books of the Old Testament that Daniel's friends would have been familiar with, but we also have the New Testament. Our responsibility is to obey what we know God's Word says and let God deal with the outcome.

Commit your way to the Lord. Be obedient to the clear instructions of God's Word, and let Him deal with any difficulties that might arise. Trust the omnipotent, omniscient God of the universe. Only He can guide you through the obstacles that result from obedience. It's good to know He will.

Obedience is our responsibility; handling the consequences is God's.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 3:24-25

When Three Become Four

Daniel 3:24–25

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

When Three Become Four

In his book Healing for Damaged Emotions, David Seamands wrote, "The day before the [open heart] surgery, a nurse came into my room to visit. She took hold of my hand, and told me to feel it. 'Now,' she said, 'during the surgery tomorrow you will be disconnected from your heart and you will be kept alive only by virtue of certain machines. When the operation is over, you will waken in a special recovery room. But you will be immobile for as long as six hours. You may be unable to move, speak, or to even open your eyes, but you will be conscious. During this time I will be at your side, holding your hand exactly as I am doing now. Although you may feel absolutely helpless, when you feel my hand, you will know that I will not leave you.' It happened exactly as the nurse told me, but I could feel the nurse's hand in mine for hours. And that made the difference!"

As Daniel's friends went through the fiery furnace, they were not alone. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the flames, he saw not three but four men walking about. The fourth man in the fire was the Son of God. What these men lost in the adversity of the fiery furnace were the things that had bound them. What they gained was the certain comfort of God's company. The presence of Christ made the difference.

If you are going through a time of fiery testing, let Christ's presence bring you comfort and peace. He will hold your hand. He will walk with you. And when it's over, you will come out stronger and freer than when you went in. Don't fear the fiery furnace; trust God.

Walk with God and you'll never walk alone.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 3:27 Psalm 46:2-3 Zechariah 2:8 Psalm 17:8 Psalm 57:1

God's Protection

Daniel 3:27

And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

God's Protection

No one could say that George Smith didn't have courage. A daring test pilot in the 1950s, back when the sound barrier was first being broken, he could face anything—until he had to bail out of a jet going 805 miles per hour. Though he survived, he was so fearful he thought he might never fly again. Then, during his hospital stay, a nurse gave him an antidote to fear. He took her words to heart when she said, "Courage is knowing the worst—and discovering that, in God's world, the very worst can't really hurt you."

Daniel's three friends experienced the worst that King Nebuchadnezzar could dish out to them. He not only cast them into a fiery furnace but also had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. The flames were so deadly that the king's men who cast the three Jewish teens into the fire were themselves consumed by the heat. But when it was all over, God so protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego that they emerged from the flames without the smell of smoke on their clothes and without a singed hair on their bodies.

Nothing can happen to a Christian without first passing through the hands of an all-powerful God. Furthermore, He is committed to the protection of those He loves. The psalmist declared, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling" (Ps. 46:2–3).

The fiery furnace of affliction can bring you pain and heartache, but it can't cause you eternal harm. God is your protector. You are the apple of His eye (Zech. 2:8), and under His wings you will find safety forever (Ps. 17:8; 57:1). Replace your fears with faith. Enjoy God's protection in your hottest furnace of affliction.

What God protects, nothing harms.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 4:26

Heaven Rules

Daniel 4:26

And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

Heaven Rules

One night an admiral on a U.S. Navy battleship ordered a certain course. The navigation officer, seeing a light in the distance, reported that the battleship seemed to be on a collision course with another ship. The admiral immediately ordered his radio officer to send a message to the oncoming ship demanding that it change its course ten degrees to the south. The reply came simply, "No. You change your course ten degrees to the south." After two more unsuccessful exchanges, the admiral, now quite furious, came thundering into the radio control room, grabbed the microphone and bellowed into it, "Change your course. I am a battleship!" After a brief moment of silence, the even-tempered reply came back, "Change your course. I am a lighthouse!"

Nebuchadnezzar was confident that he was the most powerful and important ruler alive. Dozens of lesser kings had challenged his authority, only to be conquered and brought into submission. Therefore, it disturbed him when he was given the vision of a great tree that was chopped down. The prophet Daniel revealed to this mighty despot that great as he was, heaven was greater still. And only after the proud ruler was willing to acknowledge the priority of God would his kingdom be restored to him.

No matter how important and powerful we might be, even as mighty as Nebuchadnezzar himself, we can no more challenge God than a ship can oppose a lighthouse. When God speaks, our best recourse is to submit and obey.

Are you struggling with God? Is there an area of your life that is cause for conflict? Don't crash your life into the rocks beneath the lighthouse. Let heaven rule. Surrender yourself to God and let Him have His way. It will not only preserve your life but will bring meaning to it as well.

To live your life with confidence, let heaven rule.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 4:29-31 2 Peter 3:9

Long-suffering Grace

Daniel 4:29–31

At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!"

Long-suffering Grace

Someone once said, "To become long-suffering, one has to be long-bothered." This was certainly true of God's relationship with King Nebuchadnezzar.

Even after the king had been warned in a night vision about his pride, he apparently failed to change his ways. In spite of knowing what was going to befall him, Nebuchadnezzar continued to indulge his arrogant spirit. In his conceit, he refused to acknowledge that all he had accomplished was by the expressed aid of the Lord. Yet God, with long-suffering grace, allowed him 12 more months before bringing down judgment on him.

God does not sit in heaven and glee-fully look for opportunities to bring about affliction. His desire is for all men to come to repentance. Peter wrote, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). Accordingly, He both warns and waits, seeking to bring about change through the conviction of His Spirit rather than the heavy hand of judgment. Only as a last resort does He apply the consequences of sin to those who commit it.

Christians also should be willing to show grace over an extended period of time. Rather than quickly doling out condemnation, we ought to offer ample opportunity for grace. While judgment ultimately must be meted out, give plenty of time for a change of heart.

If you are dealing with a rebel in your life, do so with long-suffering grace. Make sure that you show others the kind of grace that God has demonstrated to you. That's the way to be like God.

Grace shines brightest when it suffers longest.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture: Daniel 4:35 Revelation 3:8

An Unrestrained Hand

Daniel 4:35

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"

An Unrestrained Hand

In 1812 Napoleon proposed to invade Russia and bring its people under his control. When the plans were laid out, someone ventured to say, "Man proposes, but God disposes." On hearing that remark, Napoleon replied, "I propose, and I dispose." His pride, however, proved fatal. Using one of His tiniest, most fragile creations—the snowflake—God brought the proud general to his knees. Bogged down in heavy snow, Napoleon ordered a retreat. His army of 600,000 men was decimated, with fewer than a 100,000 making it back home again. Ultimately, this disaster weakened his armies and brought about his final defeat in 1813.

Napoleon learned what King Nebuchadnezzar also had learned. When God wills it, no one can stop it. After recovering from his seven years of madness, a much humbler king of Babylon declared, "No one can restrain His hand." Even though they led mighty armies and conquered many lands, both of these proud men discovered that God does what He desires and no one says to Him, "What have You done?"

It's a great comfort to those who love the Lord to know that He can be neither intimidated nor defeated. If they are from the Lord, whatever plans we have will unfold no matter who opposes them. Jesus said, "See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it" (Rev. 3:8). Conversely, if your plans are not from the Lord, they ultimately will fail no matter who proposes them.

Prayerfully place your plans and desires into God's hands. Be assured that if they are His will, He will bring them about. Nothing can stop God's will.

No matter what man proposes, it's God who disposes.

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