God's Provision: Daniel 4:10-18
The good we bring to this life may pass through us, but ultimately it comes from God. What a humbling perspective! I won’t speak for everyone, but I want people to think I am good. I want people to see me as contributing to their life in a positive manner. Unfortunately, that’s not the best I can do. What I should want is for God to be good through me. What I should want is for God to speak into the lives of others, using me if necessary. I am not the focus, God is.
Nebuchadnezzar has a fantastic dream. The dream starts with a great tree, which reached across the earth. It had plenty of leaves and it produced enough fruit for everyone to partake. Clearly it was in excellent health. All the beasts and birds of the earth found what they needed within the tree.
Unfortunately, this time of bliss was not to last. A messenger from heaven came and declared the tree to be cut down and bound. The birds would no longer find satisfaction. The beasts would no longer find shelter. The security of life provided by the tree would be cast aside.
At this point, the words in the story change from talking about a tree to talking about a man. The being for whom the tree was an analogy loses his mind and acts like the beasts of the field. The person who once acted like the protector of their domain is reduced to acting like a constituent of their domain. Instead of ruling over everything and being the person to whom people turn, this person can provide no longer.
In the end, the condition is temporary, lifted after seven periods of time. From a Hebrew perspective, the number seven is a symbol for completion. Therefore, the sentence could be read as the infliction will last until its job is done. In other words, the provider will be unable to provide until he has learned the lesson.
We’ll get to God’s revelation of the dream through Daniel tomorrow. Today’s focus is God’s sovereignty. God creates us. He sustains us. He gives us life. He is the source.
The main problem with the tree is a loss of perspective. There’s no trouble with it being strong. There’s no trouble with it being large. There’s no trouble in providing for others. The trouble comes when the tree sees itself as the source and fails to recognize God’s source of provision. While the tree may provide protection, sustenance, and even shade, God is the one who allowed the tree to have those qualities in the first place. The tree is not god, it is the conduit through which God works. This is true for all of us. The good we bring to this life may pass through us, but ultimately it comes from God.
