Are you the last resort?

After the great introduction to the letter Nebuchadnezzar has written to his  whole nation, he tells us the events that have led to him acknowledging the “Most High God’, we shall start by looking at the beginning of this story in Daniel 4:4-9;

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. *5*I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. *6*So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. *7*Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. *8*At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods - and I told him the dream, saying, *9*“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.

So, beforehand, Nebuchadnezzar was relaxed, comfortable, enjoying his extravagant lifestyle and his kingdom, not a trouble in the world really. Then, he is disturbed by another unfathomable dream.  Nebuchadnezzar realised that this dream was no ordinary fancy of the mind, but was relevant and of purpose. There was something about this dream, like the first that he had, that would not leave him and concerned him even though the meaning was not obvious to him. Therefore, as occurred after the first troubling dream, Nebuchadnezzar calls all of the ‘wise’ people of his time. 

They could not help.

So it seems rather reluctantly, the king calls Daniel. I say reluctantly because surely, after the first success, you would have called the same person in to help as first port of call, wouldn’t you? But Nebuchadnezzar doesn’t. The LAST thought is to enquire of Daniel. i expect that this is because Nebuchadnezzar knows that by asking Daniel, he is relying on the god he serves for the solution, and Nebuchadnezzar, like most other people, comes to God last. Preferring to; try their own methods, call upon their friend’s or even expert knowledge, seek natural understanding from other sources for the situations and difficulties in life. 

God is the last resort. 

Don’t we experience that when we speak to others? That often God is the last resort after having tried other things? After having exhausted ones own resources, and the problem remains, what next?

Have you noticed that people do not really want your help because they know where you’ll go with it (to God)? They do not ask willingly for prayer, even those who we see are desperate? Even if we do offer help or prayer, it is sometimes rebuffed. That's ok.

It is only when all other options have run out and people have nothing left that they may cry out to a God that they are not sure even exists to help them, and that is when they might come to you. Nebuchadnezzar is a great example of this. He had reached this desperation point. He was unsettled, confused and without any answers. So, even though it was his last resort, he ‘at last’ called upon Daniel to help. 

(You may think I am being a bit harsh with Nebuchadnezzar by saying that Daniel was a last resort when he speaks so kindly about him - well, wouldn’t  you speak nicely of someone, after the event, if that person has actually helped out with the solution? It doesn’t stop the fact that approaching Daniel and his god was the last resort, the only available option after all others have failed.)

When he does come to Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar talks of him as one ‘in whom is the spirit of the holy gods’, or as we may understand; a spiritual or religious man. He clearly has the gift of the Holy Spirit, but Nebuchadnezzar would not know what this is, he just knows that there’s something significant and godly about Daniel, different to everyone else he has approached and trusted for solutions. Yet, Nebuchadnezzar was still reluctant to rely on him.

I guess that is one of the encouragements for us as we read through these verses - When we are overlooked by friends/family/colleagues for advice, we should not be disheartened, but expect it. Many people do not want to admit that they cannot sort their lives out, that they need external help, and certainly not that they need a ‘god’ - some kind of overarching entity they are unsure exists to help them. They would rather rely on natural solutions than supernatural ones. They would rather seek advice and explanation from scientists, psychics and the like than those who worship the One God. So, do not be surprised when your advice is shunned or considered last.  Nothing has changed since the times of Nebuchadnezzar! 

People do not want to admit that there may be more to life than they can see or have control over. They do not want to admit that they cannot do it alone, and if you are someone who relies in God yourself, then you are a scary person because people do not understand the faith you have. That does not mean that we should hide what God does in our lives, in fact the opposite is true. We should demonstrate our reliance, the hope and wonders that we experience with those around us. We should share with others how God has changed and challenged us, healed us, broken through for us. Otherwise, where are the people going to go when they really are really desperate and there is no other hope? 

Daniel was a last resort, he was the final hope. You might be that for someone too, but how will they know unless you share the good news of living with God?