The God of History
Read Ezra 1:9–11 and Daniel 1:1, 2. How do the texts in Daniel help
us understand what Ezra was referring to?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Notice how in Ezra details are given, while in Daniel the big picture
was presented. Together, though, these texts show that the Lord is in
control.
“The history of nations speaks to us today. To every nation and to
every individual God has assigned a place in His great plan. Today men
and nations are being tested by the plummet in the hand of Him who
makes no mistake. All are by their own choice deciding their destiny,
and God is overruling all for the accomplishment of His purposes.”
—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 536.
Read Daniel 5. What do these texts teach us about the judgment upon
Belshazzar?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Babylon fell in October 539 b.c., when Cyrus, king of the Medo-
Persian Empire, conquered it. Belshazzar, falsely relying on his suc-
cesses, luxury, and fame, was so arrogant that he had organized a wild
banquet on the night that would end up with his being killed. The divine
hand wrote on the palace wall that his days were counted and coming
to an end. Even though he knew the fate and conversion story of the
mighty King Nebuchadnezzar, he did not learn his lesson. It is always
tragic when we do not listen to God’s warnings and do not follow His
instruction.
The prophet Daniel was always there, but he had been ignored. When
we lose the sense of God’s holiness and His presence in life, we tread a
path accompanied with complications, problems, and tragedies, which
ultimately ends in death.
After recounting to the king the story of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel
said, “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart,
although you knew all this” (Dan. 5:22, NKJV). How can we make
sure that we, in our own context, don’t make the same kind of
mistake that Belshazzar did? How should the reality of the Cross
always keep us humble before God?
Comentarios