Our daily lives are filled with decisions. It can be as simple as what to buy at the grocery store and as life changing as who to marry?
The who, what, why, where, when and how’s of life can be paralyzing. People want answers and all too often, want to assess blame and divert responsibility.
Do we go forward or stand still? Which college, mate, career, home? How do we accomplish the goal, what steps do we take to achieve the proper outcome?
What was the dream and what does it mean?
This was the question that King Nebuchadnezzar put to his wise men and advisors. Never before had a ruler posed such a dilemma. Magicians and wise men had been interpreting dreams for years but this was different. The king had a troubling dream but when he woke, he couldn’t remember it and he wanted his council to tell him his dream and the meaning.
“he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”
4 Then the astrologers answered the king,“May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”
10 The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”
12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel 2:3-12 ERV
Can you imagine such a thing? Their very lives depended on them giving the king the correct answer and they were at a loss.
I’ve never yet had to make such a paramount decision, one that would cost me my life and the lives of my fellow associates. All the wise men in Babylon were to be killed because of the lack of wisdom of a few.
Daniel was a part of this intellectual group in the palace. His life was on the line as well. He had not been a part of the original committee but when he realized the severity of the issue, he approached the king. He asked that the king grant him just a little more time to interpret the dream.
The king granted this request and Daniel went to his friends and asked them to pray with him and for him. He needed answers from God.
“Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven” Daniel 2:17-19 ERV
When big decisions need to be made it’s always comforting to know that you have friends who will pray with you. Even Jesus asked his disciples to pray with Him the night before the crucifixion.
Daniel went to the king with the revelation that the Lord had given him. He told the king his dream and the meaning of it. He also told the king that the only way he could know this information was because God had revealed it to him. As a reward the king promoted Daniel to the position of governor of Babylon and his three friends were given new positions as his advisors.
Again, we may never be asked to make such a monumental decision as this but we can trust God to lead us in our everyday decisions. Some of the decisions we make are life and death without us knowing it. Leaving for work a bit early, taking another road could help us avoid an accident.
Implanting a new safety plan at work could keep hundreds of employees from being exposed to danger. Using a new teaching example in the classroom could open the minds of our students to better understanding. Changing our attitude, being more humble could change the atmosphere in our home for anger to peace.
All of these are important decisions where we need the Lord’s direction.
I was reading in Psalm 119 this morning before I began to read in the book of Daniel. This is what King David wrote about making wise decisions.
“Our Lord, you always do right, and your decisions are fair. 138 All of your teachings are true and trustworthy. 139 It upsets me greatly when my enemies neglect your teachings. 140 Your word to me, your servant, is like pure gold; I treasure what you say…144 Your rules are always fair. Help me to understand them and live. 145 I pray to you, Lord! Please answer me. I promise to obey your laws. 146 I beg you to save me, so I can follow your rules.
147 Even before sunrise, I pray for your help, and I put my hope in what you have said. 148 I lie awake at night, thinking of your promises. 149 Show that you love me, Lord, and answer my prayer...151 but you are with me, and all of your commands can be trusted. 152 From studying your laws, I found out long ago
that you made them to last forever.” Psalm 119:137-152 CEV
We can trust God’s word to give us direction and when we ask for wisdom we know that He will give it to us freely.
“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.” James 1:5 CEV
It’s up to us to take time to listen and then follow His lead.