TODAY IN THE WORD
Hurricane Charlie was part of a violent series of hurricanes that ripped across the coastal southeastern United States in 2004, but one part of the destruction that the storm left behind added a bit of perspective to the people of Florida. A billboard advertising a video game was almost completely stripped of its outer fabric, but a previous ad was left intact. Big white letters stood against the black background that read, “We need to talk—God.”

Sometimes God speaks through a still small voice, but to Daniel He used a forceful charge to get across His message. Once again, Daniel encounters an overwhelming vision. This time, however, the specifics are spelled out in greater detail.

The ram was the empire of Media and Persia. Keep in mind that at this point, the Medo-Persians had yet to take over Babylon. Prophesying their emergence as the dominant world power was no small feat. In Daniel's vision, this future empire was just a blink. They were quickly overtaken by the next power, represented by a goat. The next part of the prophecy is too much for many modern readers to accept. How could Daniel have predicted the reign of Greece, which wouldn't grow to full power under Alexander the Great's rule for another two centuries? Even more astoundingly, Daniel's dream foretold the division of Alexander's empire between four rulers after his death. The final stroke of predictive perfection is the description to the day of the length of the tyrannical oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes over the Jews in the second century b.c. For people of faith, however, the precise accuracy of Daniel's predictions demonstrates the unquestionable validity of the key messages and themes of the book.

The prophecies in this chapter are among the most important of the Old Testament, as they helped construct the framework of expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Daniel may have been exhausted, sickened, and disheartened by what he saw, but restoration, hope, and true redemption would ultimately win out through the blessed gift of Jesus Christ.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Being God's messenger can oftentimes be a difficult proposition. Even when Daniel was overwhelmed in his private moments, he was still strong enough to perform the duties God required of him. You might be called to witness to people resistant to the gospel or minister in places where evil has caused unbelievable pain. This chapter is a stark reminder that comfort doesn't always come with the territory of obedience. Take heart, because Christ gives us peace that passes understanding!

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