TODAY IN THE WORD
Wilhelm II of Germany was boasting to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands about the strength of his army during World War I. He arrogantly said to the Queen, “Our guardsmen are seven feet tall.” Unimpressed, her majesty replied, “But when we open our dikes, the waters are ten feet deep.”

Nebuchadnezzar was a great king, but he wasn't invincible. Throughout the book of Daniel, he showed a remarkable sensitivity to the messages God had been sending him. He bowed to the God of Daniel after his first dream was interpreted. He praised the God Most High when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego escaped the fiery furnace. But he had still not completely submitted to the Lord. He seemed to recognize that the Lord reigned supreme over all other gods, but he stopped short of declaring God supreme over his own heart.

Daniel was given the unenviable task of telling the king to change his ways. He confronted Nebuchadnezzar for his sin and wickedness, pleading with him to acknowledge God and avoid the humiliation that was prophesied in his dream. It was a bold move on Daniel's part, moving beyond an interpretation of the dream and venturing to advise the king how he should behave. Even though the dream included hope that Nebuchadnezzar would regain his kingdom, Daniel wanted to give the king the opportunity to escape judgment.

But there is no evidence that the king heeded his warning. Nebuchadnezzar needed more than words to convince him. After his dream in chapter 2, he wanted the wise men to prove their worth by describing the dream without being told. God used Daniel to do it. At the fiery furnace, only a miracle could cause him to rescind his decree that his statue should be worshiped. God used Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to do it. So when Daniel pled with Nebuchadnezzar to change, that change would only happen when God used Nebuchadnezzar himself to do it. He was a man who had to see to believe, even if it meant living outside and chewing on grass for seven years. He was about to become insane with pride.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes, nothing you can say will change another person's mind—but that doesn't mean you shouldn't say anything. If you know someone who has to learn about sin the hard way, don't let that stop you from lovingly confronting them. Even if it takes years and years, your words can have an effect long after you speak them. Also, let the Lord scour your heart for any traces of stubborn sin. If you're unwilling to change, you can't expect anyone else to budge, either.

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