We are getting advice from an unlikely person. The great king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was well-known over the world as one of the most wicked kings to ever reign. He was proud and iron-fisted, yet he was humbled before God. Here in his final time to talk to the people, he is out of form and his reputation. He learned God’s lesson the hard way. His words of wisdom are true for us today. Never ask “what are you doing, God?”
Nebuchadnezzar had a problem. He desired to be worshiped. Kings in those days thought of themselves as God and so did some of their people. What utter foolishness. God worked on the king time after time, and he didn’t listen. Daniel interpreted the king’s last dream saying the tree would be cut down to a stump. He was going down. Daniel begged him saying “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” If he would humble himself all would go well. His answer was “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Nebuchadnezzar bragged on himself. He boasted on what he had done. In his mind he had control of it all; he could command his own destiny. This was the greatest mistake he ever made.
No more had the words come out of his mouth when a voice from heaven spoke saying “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.”
Daniel 4:34 “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”
Before we jump on the wagon and speak so hastily about Nebuchadnezzar, consider that many times we are as he was. There are two things we do the most. We have assumptions and predictions. We assume there will be another day, another month, another Christmas. We assume loved ones will be here. We predict that things will go on as they are or this way and that and don’t stop to think they may not. We predict and assume our health will be good. We think our finances will be good. We walk out on our own palace of life and say, all this is in my hand; I can relax now.
Assumptions drive us, and when things go the way we didn’t predict we turn and ask God “what are you doing?” God does not look at our assumptions and predictions and say okay. If he did so, he would not be in charge. We would. We assume because we’re Christians things will be hunky-dory. We have no control over it anymore than we have control over our next breath. How dare we turn and ask God “what are you doing?” Jesus taught us the lesson well. In the garden he prayed “not my will but thine be done.” We should realize how little control we do have. The king gave great advice. None of us have to right to ask God “what are you doing?”
When we do this we are asking several questions. We may say “I should have known that.” But then we say “God, do you really know what you’re doing?” We see it one way. God may not. It may not make sense to us, but it always does to God. Look at Joseph and his slavery and the three Hebrew children and the fiery furnace. We wake one morning and we’re at a river of Babylon. Things are out of control. God knows what he’s doing. We may say “why don’t you do it this way?” We can assume and predict things to be right, but we don’t always know. When it happens in a way we didn’t expect, don’t turn around and say “God, what are you doing?” If is for the good. Romans 8:28 states “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
We should not say “why did you?” or “why didn’t you?” Don’t ask “are you ever going to do anything about this?” Of course He’ll do something! He’s already doing it! He works in mysterious and unseen ways. God brought down the walls of Jericho not the people. They praised God and let him work.
Nebuchadnezzar ate grass for seven years in order to realize there is a true God in heaven. We need God to fulfill over our predictions and assumptions. He’s God. He doesn’t need us to tell him what to do. He’s God in sorrow and laughter, bad and good, the valley and the mountain. We are never without God. He is in control and with him we have more than all others. Consider the sparrows. Consider the lilies. How much more will he take care of us? That’s more than we can conceive.
Questions we ask are moot. God does what he wants and when he wants it. We dare not interfere. His best is all right. God’s “when” is the best “when” for us. Our duty to God is just like the king’s. In verse 37 he said “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”
We ought to appreciate what Nebuchadnezzar said. He helped us know the best thing is to acknowledge God for who he is and what he is. We need to cease the assumptions and predictions and quit pushing our wants and likes. Accept whatever God brings. Trust God through it all. The three Hebrew children had the right attitude. They knew God could bring them out of the furnace but said if he did not it was all right: they would still serve the Lord.
Are we willing not to assume and predict anything with God and just accept him? I give an invitation not to come ask God for anything but one to come and acknowledge God as the true God. He’s the whenever, whatever God.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 