When we receive a calling from the Lord it can be an exciting time! We will immediately start looking forward to seeing our calling realized! However, for a reason known only to God, we might have to wait longer than others in order to see His plan fulfilled in our life, and it can be a frustrating situation.
Sometimes the Lord will delay because we need to be purified of sin. At other times God will postpone our calling as we grow in our knowledge and understanding of Him, and as He prepares the hearts of the people that will eventually come into our life. In our message this evening, I’m going to share about a delay that we might encounter in pursuing our God-given vision.
I wish to begin with an encouraging illustration to assure us that God’s delays can turn out for our good, and also benefit the kingdom:
When George Muller was a young man, he had a dream - an earnest hope for his life and legacy. He would become an evangelist, who would take the message of Christ to the world. But after several unsuccessful attempts in his twenties to follow this career, he concluded it wasn’t in God’s will for him, and he gave up - until age sixty-seven.
At this unlikely point in his life, his dream finally materialized; and for the next twenty years - until he was eighty-seven - George Muller traveled many thousands of miles, carrying out numerous speaking missions, and becoming one of the nineteenth century’s foremost Christian statesmen.
Muller’s path to becoming an evangelist illustrates one of the most fascinating and encouraging aspects of God’s providence that we experience. It’s the fact that certain dreams we have, which we assume have failed and forever been denied by God, do eventually succeed - but at a later point than we expected. For some of us, a dream is realized much later in life than we thought possible.(1)
Remember, the Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). I believe this evening’s message will bring about some much-needed encouragement, and help us understand a few things we can do in order to see our calling come to pass.
Daniel Awaited God’s Vision (vv. 1-3)
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled (Daniel 10:1-3).
A message was to be delivered unto Daniel, which contained a vision. It was a true message which wouldn’t be fulfilled for a very long time, at an exact and appointed moment in the future. In chapters eleven and twelve, we see how the vision was finally revealed to Daniel, and we are privileged to the information he received. Allow me to summarize the prophetic events contained in chapters eleven and twelve:
We learn about many kings and kingdoms at war with one another (Dn 11:1-20), and then we read about the rise of a king who will seize the world by intrigue (11:21). He is the antichrist, or the beast, referred to in Revelation chapter thirteen. A league, or alliance, will be made with him and he shall rise in power (11:23). He will show great favor unto those who forsake the Lord and the holy covenant (11:30), and his followers “shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation” (11:31).
Those who remain faithful and true to God will be persecuted (Dn 11:33-34), which will serve to refine them and make them strong until the end of time (11:35). Then “the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, [and] shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods” (11:36), but his time will come to an end (11:45). The archangel named Michael will rise up to assist God’s people during a time of great trouble (12:1), and then “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt” (12:2), which will be “the end of the days” (12:13).
We now see why the “appointed time was long” (Dn 10:1) and very far off, for it was an end-times prophecy. Daniel would be dead and buried before the events of this vision would unfold (12:13). This was the message and vision that Daniel would receive, but when we find him here it had not yet been delivered. Daniel was still waiting for this prophetic vision or revelation to arrive from the Lord.
We might receive a vision or calling from God sometime in our life, but probably nothing like Daniel’s. The vision that would come to Daniel consisted of extremely sensitive material that would help prepare many believers for Satan’s final onslaught. This message from the Lord was so important that it was probably emotionally distressing to wait for any length of time in receiving it; therefore, Daniel was in mourning (Dn 10:2) and fasting, and he refused to anoint himself (10:3).
The word from the Lord was delayed, and Daniel knew that prayer and fasting were effective at moving and stirring the heavens (Mt 18:18-19). As we shall see, it was an effective strategy in spiritual warfare. We might recall from the Scripture how there was a time when Jesus’ disciples couldn’t cast out a demon, and He told them, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Mt 17:21). We can surmise that Daniel prayed and fasted in an attempt to hurry things along.
We read here that Daniel waited for three whole weeks (Dn 10:3). We might have to wait longer than three weeks for God’s vision to be fulfilled in our life; however, the Bible encourages us, “The vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hb 2:3). So, let’s not allow the delay to distract us from our calling, or to result in feeling that God has let us down. In Psalm 27:4, David said, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Ps 27:4).
The Lord Appeared to Daniel (vv. 4-6)
Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude (Daniel 10:4-6).
We see mention of the first month (Dn 10:4). This was the Jewish calendar month of Nissan that occurred during the spring and included the celebration of Passover.(2) This would have made it around the time of Easter, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was during this time that Daniel lifted up his eyes after twenty-one days of fasting, and saw a radiant figure standing before him! In Revelation, there’s a similar depiction portrayed:
Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw . . . One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.
He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength . . . [He declared] I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore (Revelation 1:12-18).
The description in Revelation is an image of Jesus Christ. When Daniel lifted his eyes after twenty-one days, it was to catch a sight of Christ! Matthew Henry said, “A description of that glorious person whom Daniel saw in vision, which, it is generally agreed, could be no other than Christ Himself, the eternal Word.”(3)
The Lord finally came to Daniel, and He didn’t appear as God the Father, or the Holy Spirit, but as the Son of God. If you’ll faithfully wait on the Lord, then Jesus will speak to you about your situation!
The Lord Renewed Daniel (vv. 7-11)
And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling (Daniel 10:7-11).
We read that Daniel’s strength was gone (Dn 10:8). He was probably weak from his long period of fasting – not weak from fear – and we read how he fell asleep (10:9). One might conclude that in the presence of Jesus, Daniel felt such a reassuring peace that he was finally able to get some rest.
Daniel slept, and while he rested in the presence of the Lord, Jesus spoke to him (Dn 10:9). The prophet Zephaniah described the Lord’s renewing voice, saying, “He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (3:17b). Daniel received some much-needed rest and encouragement in the Lord.
Daniel was then awakened and lifted to his knees (Dn 10:10). One translation states, “Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees” (10:10 NLT). Jesus extended His hand to assist him in getting up, thus helping to renew his strength; and after being lifted to his hands and knees, he was further renewed through even more of Jesus’ tender words.
Jesus consoled him, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved” (Dn 10:11). What Jesus tried to instill within him was, “I love you Daniel.” In the New Testament, Jesus stated, “He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (Jn 14:21). Many times when we don’t hear from the Lord we can begin feeling weak, faint and even unloved; but Jesus will manifest Himself to us, lift us up, and look into our eyes and tell us that He’s loved us all along.
We see that after hearing Jesus’ words, Daniel went from his hands and knees to standing upright (Dn 10:11). If we are waiting for a vision from God to be fulfilled, then we should be encouraged as we consider how the Lord is running to rescue us, to renew and strengthen us, and to plant us upright on our feet!
The Lord Explained His Delay (vv. 12-14)
Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” (Daniel 10:12-14).
Many times when we don’t hear from the Lord, we’ll begin wondering if He even notices our prayers. Jesus told Daniel that even though He didn’t come immediately He still heard him (Dn 10:12). Sometimes God will delay intentionally, because He wants to receive all the glory when He finally appears (cf. Jn 11:1-44). At other times, however, there are things going on in the spiritual realm that are unseen to believers.
God may have a desire to fulfill a specific vision in our life, but sometimes He has to prepare the way ahead of us before we can ever reach the intended plan that He has. In Exodus 23 and Deuteronomy 1, we learn that in the spiritual realm God will send out an angel before us to prepare the way by finding a route, by searching for a resting place, and by subduing any enemies that might lie in wait ahead of us (Ex 23:20-22; Dt 1:30-33). So, if the Lord hasn’t yet fulfilled a vision in our life then we would do well to consider how He might be out there in front of us preparing the way!
When Jesus prepares the way He’s fighting and battling for us, and this is called spiritual warfare. Jesus was on His way to bring Daniel the vision, and to fulfill His promise to Daniel that he would indeed receive a revelation; however, Jesus was tied up and delayed in fighting “the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia” (Dn 10:13).
This Prince was not a physical or fleshly being, but a spirit-being, or angel. The New Living Translation reads, “But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia” (Dn 10:13). This Prince, therefore, was an evil spirit. The one who came to assist Jesus was the prince named Michael; and as we’ve already learned, Michael was an archangel of God.
The Prince of Persia was an angel too; an evil angel. Evil angels are fallen angels, better known as demons. They fell with Lucifer in his great rebellion against God (cf. Is 14:12-16; Rv 12:7-9). In fact, the devil is a fallen angel; and he can even transform himself into an angel of light to deceive people (2 Cor 11:14). Perhaps this Prince of Persia, which Michael battled, was Satan himself (cf. Rv 12:7).
Jesus was delayed in bringing Daniel the vision because He was tied up in battling the devil. It was such an intense battle that Jesus couldn’t step aside until He had received relief from Michael. Satan resisted the message being delivered. He resisted the future, and the message concerning the future. Why? Because it was a prophecy that concluded with the destruction of the antichrist (Dn 11:45), which would eventually lead to the devil’s own demise (Rv 20:7-10).
What I wish to emphasize is that sometimes we can get uptight when God delays, and we can get angry with the Lord or give up hope, when all along Jesus has been fighting for us and preparing the way. And we can’t move forward until He’s cleared the obstacles and the opposition which lies ahead.
The Lord Encouraged Daniel (vv. 15-19)
When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”
Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me” (Daniel 10:15-19)
Daniel turned to the ground and was speechless (Dn 10:15), possibly ashamed for doubting, and for allowing his doubt to lead to mourning and weariness. We see how “one having the likeness of the sons of men” (10:16) touched Daniel’s lips so he could speak, and He touched Daniel and strengthened him (10:18). I wish to once again affirm that this person was none other than Jesus Christ (cf. Mt 20:18, 24:27). M. G. Easton states that “in the New Testament [Son of Man] is used forty-three times as a distinctive title of the Savior.”(4)
Daniel was weak from fasting, tired and frustrated from waiting, and downhearted and ashamed for doubting. After hearing Jesus’ explanation for His delay he was probably frustrated with himself for his anxiety, and he possibly lost his sense of value and worth. We can see, however, that Jesus didn’t feel this way about Daniel, or have a negative opinion of him. Jesus encouraged and strengthened Daniel.
For the second time, Jesus reinforced the fact that Daniel was greatly loved by God (Dn 10:19). He also gave him the verbal blessings of peace and strength. Jesus wanted Daniel to realize that he wasn’t at fault for the delay, and He wanted to restore him to a proper spiritual state of mind where he could receive the vision. Now that he had regained his strength and sense of worth in God’s eyes, he could now focus on the message. Daniel said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me” (10:19).
The Truth Was in the Scripture (vv. 20-21a)
Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth” (Daniel 10:20-21a).
Jesus basically told Daniel, “I have come to deliver my message. It’s a message that’s so important, and that Satan is trying to stop so badly, that when I depart from here I must go back to holding him off until the end of the age arrives when his demise finally comes.”
In chapters eleven and twelve Jesus delivered the message; however, right here He informed Daniel of how the vision concerning the truth of what was yet to come was derived from the “Scripture of Truth” (Dn 10:21). The New Living Translation says, “Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth” (10:21). The identification of the “Scripture of Truth,” and the “Book of Truth,” is likely a reference to the Holy Scripture; which, when applied to us, is the Bible.
Paul said of the Bible, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tm 3:16-17). The Bible is the “Book of Truth,” or the “Scripture of Truth,” where we will find the answers we need.
If we find ourselves in a situation where it appears as though a vision is delayed, or perhaps we feel that God hasn’t been revealing Himself or speaking to us lately; we can find the answers we need in the Scripture of Truth. If we have questions about finding direction in life, or we need answers to the problems we may be facing, then we should turn to the Bible and ask the Spirit of Truth to guide us (Jn 16:13) in the Book of Truth.
Time of Reflection
We’ve now seen one possible reason why God might be in delay of fulfilling a vision that He’s promised. It could be a matter of spiritual warfare, where Jesus is out there preparing the way ahead of us before we can enter our calling. Will we continue to grow weary and become discouraged, or will we hold fast to our identity in Christ that we are greatly loved by God? Will we remain strong and stand tall in His love?
I want to close by encouraging you to be fervent in prayer and searching the Scripture of Truth; and if you feel led and compelled, then also practice fasting. Just be encouraged in knowing that Jesus will come!
He not only comes to provide believers with calling and direction, but He rushes to the lost to bring them salvation; that is, if they’ll call on His name. The Bible declares, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
NOTES
(1) M. Blaine Smith, “When Waiting Is Worth It,” posted December 1, 2004, Nehemiah Notes: nehemiah.gospelcom.net/waiting3.htm (Accessed November 30, 2009).
(2) Ezra HaLevi, “Jews Welcome Nissan, Hebrew Month of Redemption,” posted March 19, 2007, Arutz Sheva: www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/121885 (Accessed November 30, 2009).
(3) Matthew Henry, “Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible,” CrossWalk: bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/MatthewHenryComplete/mhc-com.cgi?book=da&chapter=010 (Accessed November 30, 2009).
(4) M. G. Easton, “Son of Man,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary, in Logos CD-ROM, version 2.1E
