In Pursuit - The Transformation Of Nebuchadnezzar

March 12, 2016

Today, I want to talk to you about transformation. I believe transformation is the necessary result of an active and engaged relationship with Jesus and there is no better story in the Old Testament that demonstrates the power of a transformed life than that of Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar’s story is so much more than transformation. It is really about God’s unrelenting pursuit of Nebuchadnezzar’s heart and the transformed life that comes as a result of that pursuit.

Nebuchadnezzar was, without doubt, one of the greatest kings in all human history.

• He was a mighty warrior, wise statesman and brilliant architect. He was also arrogant and quick tempered.

• He, almost single handedly, turned the Babylonian empire into the mightiest nation of the then known world.

• He conquered many nations and subdued many peoples, including the Nation of Judah and the people of God.

Historians attribute the fall of Judah and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar, but according to Daniel 1:2 it was God who handed Jerusalem over to the Babylonians. Right from the beginning of the book it is established that while Nebuchadnezzar may be the mightiest of earthly kings, it is God who’s in control and at work behind the scenes.

Encounter 1 – University Exit Exam

We’ve talked the last few weeks about how critical a relationship with Jesus is when facing life’s storms. Certainly, the destruction of Judah and deportation to another country, qualifies as a storm of life. No doubt, many folded beneath the fury of the waves, but not our 4 boys -

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azaria.

Scripture does not record a moment of “poor me” from any of them. They were loyal followers of Yahweh and were determined to be faithful in every circumstance. Every challenge was an opportunity to witness about the God of Heaven.

The text tells us that they were granted admission into the “Stanford University” of Babylon. Not just any body was allowed in (free from physical defect, handsome, wide-range of knowledge, well-informed, intelligent) – it was a high honor and right away our boys start trouble.

They refused to eat what they were given, Why? I suggest the main issue for them was loyalty. By eating food from the kings table, you were acknowledging that he was your provider and sustainer and you were giving your loyalty to him. Daniel and his friends could not, under any circumstance, give their loyalty to anyone but God. By their refusal to eat from the kings table they were saying that they were sustained by God and gave their loyalty only to him.

This put their caretaker in an awkward position because if anything prevented these boys from excelling in school, he would be held responsible. The 4 friends were persistent, however, and in the end, they were allowed to eat as they chose.

The final exam was an oral exam and the king, himself, conducted each interview. He found that of all the graduating class none compared to those 4 boys:

• Daniel 1:20 - “Every time the king consulted them on any matter calling for insight and judgment, he found them ten times superior to all the magicians and exorcists in his whole kingdom”.

They honored God and turn God honored them above all others.

What does this have to do with transformational power??

God was planting seeds and He used young, captured slaves to do it.

At that time, when nations went to war so did their gods. When a nation lost the war the gods of that nation also lost the war.

To conquer a nation was to say, in fact, “My god(s) is more powerful than your god(s)”. On top of that the Hebrew captives were members of a nation comprised of only two tribes + Levi. It was an insignificant little nation. And yet, the God of that defeated little nation blessed those that determined to remain faithful only to Him. That could not have gone unnoticed by Nebuchadnezzar.

Always remember that people are watching to see if your talk and your walk are the same.

Encounter 2 – Dream #1 – The Image

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he couldn’t remember and he was troubled. He called all the soothsayers, magicians, sorcerers, etc. to tell him the dream and interpret it. Never before had the king asked for more than an interpretation of a dream, but this time was different and of course, they couldn’t do it. As a result of their inability to do as the king requested, Nebuchadnezzar declared that all the soothsayers and magicians and sorcerers, etc. would be put to death – all of them, including Daniel and his friends, who had not been invited to the audience with the king.

Daniel asked for time and was given the same dream as well as its interpretation. Once again, the God of the Hebrews was making it clear to the king that he was not really in charge. It was the God of the insignificant Hebrews that set up kingdoms and removed kingdoms (including His own). It is God who is in charge of the future.