HOPE…in the end
One of the ways that God gives us strength and confidence for this life is by telling us the end of the story. By assuring us of the end, He frees us from getting overwhelmed by the temporary. We look forward to the day that we stand with Him in glory, but it also transforms […]
HOPE…in the temporary
God lays out the next 500 years of power struggles in a corner of the world. He is telling the Israelite people what will happen to them, so that they will know that He is there in the midst of it. Through this future history lesson, God teaches us not to allow the temporary to […]
HOPE…in God’s presence
Daniel sees an image of a man, who humbles him and forces him to the ground in fear. This man, rather than using this power to conquer and destroy, uses it to comfort and restore. Daniel sees a vision of Jesus and the work that he will do to bring people to Himself.
HOPE…in atonement
Daniel’s third vision is more of a deceleration than an image. As an answer to his pleas for mercy, God tells Daniel the story of the coming redemption. This future glory is a reminder in a time of struggle that God has a plan that will end in the greatest good for His people.
HOPE…in restoration
Through the vision of the ram and the goat, God gives His people a picture of what is to come. He does this, not for them to alter the events of present the future, but to give them hope in the midst of it. When all is difficult and they cry out: How long, O […]
HOPE…in the den
One of the best known stories in the Bible is: Daniel and the lion’s den. As we engage with this story, we see that it is a helpful reminder tyo us of God’s grace in difficult times, but also the means by which our salvation was purchased. As we see an innocent man sentenced to […]
HOPE…in punishment
God shows His sovereignty, not only in grace, but also in justice. In this story, we see a similar motif to chapter 4: king who is full of himself and is punished by God. This time, there is no restoration, and the king and kingdom are taken away. This is a good reminder to us […]
HOPE…in humiliation
We have yet another story that revolves around dreams, interpretations, and God proclaiming His sovereignty. This time, God takes aim at human pride. This story is not about the enemies of Israel, but about how all prideful rebellion makes us enemies with God. The hope of the story lies in a God who acts toward […]
HOPE…in persecution
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the king’s statue and it earns them some time in the fiery furnace. God saves them by sending a fourth man to walk with them in the fire. In this, they become part of God’s plan to proclaim His redemption through the God-man, Jesus Christ.
HOPE…in self-denial
The book of Daniel opens up by stressing the sovereignty of God. He is the Lord of nations, who controls who is in power. He is the Lord over each individual life, down to four men in exile. Trust in this sovereignty allows us to embrace a life of self-denial, removing everything from our life […]