Lions and visions and kings--oh my!

Today: Daniel 4-6

This morning I was watching the "Today" show and saw a horrific news story (fyi: this video link is only part of it) about a bear that attacked, killed and injured campers in Yellowstone National Park. This event came to mind as I read today's passage and the famous story of Daniel in the lions' den with a fresh perspective.

The campers at Yellowstone did nothing to provoke a bear attack--the bear that attacked them was probably only at each camp site for minutes. Similarly, Daniel did nothing to provoke anyone, but was placed in a den with very dangerous lions FOR HOURS! In fact, people who were thrown into the lions' den after Daniel were basically killed in seconds--before they even hit the floor.

As I read the story again today, I realized just how miraculous it was. Not that I should be surprised--even in these short chapters, God performed other major miracles for Daniel, giving Daniel the power to interpret dreams and mysterious writing on a wall (from a disembodied hand!).

In several of these incidents, it was interesting to see the responses of people who doubted God before--people who thought they were god-like in power themselves. King Darius was one of those guys. I'd like to close today's post with his reflections on the miracle of Daniel in the lions' den and the incredible power of the God who saved him:

King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth:

"Peace to you! Abundant peace!

I decree that

Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared

in all parts of my kingdom.

He is the living God, world without end.

His kingdom never falls.

His rule continues eternally.

He is a savior and rescuer.

He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth.

He saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

Tomorrow: Daniel 7-9

Shaken from the status quo

Today: Deuteronomy 11-13

I've heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. I don't know if that fully captures it, but there's probably some truth in the statement. Sometimes we need to be stop the insanity--sometimes we need to be shaken out of the status quo.

Have you ever felt like you were spinning your wheels? Waiting on the world to change (as John Mayer would say)?

I have. I thought these verses in today's passage--Moses' instructions to the Israelites before entering the Promised Land--were very interesting:

Don't continue doing things the way we're doing them at present,

each of us doing as we wish.

Until now you haven't arrived at the goal,

the resting place, the inheritance that God, your God, is giving you.

I think there could be a few ways to interpret these statements. One possibility? When we do things the way we want to--the status quo comfortable way--we may not get to our goal. This interpretation falls in line with the definition of insanity above.

Another way to look at these verses? The way you do things before you reach a goal isn't the way you should act when you arrive at your goal. You're in a phase or stage--and that means it's time for an adjustment in attitude or behavior.

I think another key part of these verses deals with the "each of us doing as we wish" part. Life isn't always about doing things the way we want--ideally, it's about first submitting to what God wants for our lives. The verses that follow are instructing the people to follow God's directions for worshipping Him (in terms of place, offerings and attitudes).

Similar to the last point, sometimes God calls us to sacrifice what we want for the benefit of others. I was reminded of this when I watched the "Today" show this morning. There I was, in my own bathroom, deciding what to wear from a full walk-in closet (that I don't even have to share at the moment!), drying my hair and putting on make-up while I watch a gut-wrenching report about the massive devastation in Haiti. It was a huge contrast--me in America with every possible convenience and a young woman in Haiti bleeding and screaming on the street. Wow. I can't say that I love teary-eyed mornings watching the news before work, but sometimes they're necessary. The story didn't just move my emotions, it moved me to act. Being shaken from your status quo can be a beautiful thing.

Tomorrow: Deuteronomy 14-16