“In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, he had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So, they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.” (Daniel 2:1-5)

The days of Daniel were dark. Far from home and 900 miles may just have been millions. Daniel was exiled and although he found favor with Nebuchadnezzar, all of the wisemen, advisors and magicians were in the same spot. Daniel included. The king is troubled and if no one can interpret his dream and know the dream itself, they will be killed, their family will be annihilated and everything they owned will be taken. 

I cannot imagine the panic and sick fear knowing your life rests in the hands of a man making an impossible demand. 

“But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore, show me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm - if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” (Daniel 2:6-9)

Now the king has told his advisers if they can fulfill his demands, they will have great wealth and a place of honor. No knowledge and interpretation, you and your family die. I would not be terribly reassured knowing I can live only if I do the impossible. No loopholes. Tell the dream and its interpretation, rise to a wealthier and elevated status or die. 

“The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So, the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.” (Daniel 2:10-16)

Daniel does not react in a panic. Why? How can anyone be expected to remain controlled when their life is on the line? Daniel was not confident in himself. He was not looking to any man. 

"Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven." (Daniel 2:17-19)

Daniel praised God, he burst into praise because he knew it was God who revealed the dream and its meaning. God preserved not only Daniel’s life, but the lives of all of the advisors, magicians, Chaldeans, and his companions. Not once did Daniel take credit for what God had done. 

Read the rest of Daniel Chapter Two. God wins in this epic battle. The battle Daniel faced and the battle of sin and death. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has already won.

The world I live in today is not my forever home. I am a traveler and sojourner far from home. There are powers, seen and unseen. Combine all of the power sources you can think of and it will not come close to our magnificence God. Omnipotent means to have unlimited power (omni=all; potent = powerful). God is able and powerful to do anything he wills without any effort. There is nothing that my God cannot do.

Who has the power? The One who spoke the world and all that is in it, into being. 

Who or what do you look to for your source of strength and power? I’d love to hear your thoughts, please leave a comment below.