As I was looking back through my “quiet times” (what I call my daily time with the Lord reading His Word), one caught my eye from December. Here are the references that stood out to me which I wrote in my journal:
But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
~ Job 32:8
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself
~Daniel 1:8a
[The Chaldeans answered the king,] “The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” . . . Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.
~Daniel 2
But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
~ Luke 22:53b
At first glance, these are three distressing scenes. For Job, God allowed him to experience incredible suffering at the hands of Satan. His children die, his livelihood is taken, and he is inflicted with a disease of the skin. He gets into a frustrating banter with three friends, who do not help the situation. For Daniel, he is currently a Jew in exile. He was given a Babylonian name, taught the Babylonian language, and introduced to the Babylonian customs. All these tactics were meant to strip him of his Jewish identity and replace it with a Babylonian identity. In Luke, these are some of Jesus’ words as he is being betrayed by Judas and arrested. And we all know the gruesome story that unfolds. As Jesus put it, this is the hour of the power of darkness.
How are any of these “good” circumstances? How could God’s Kingdom grow in any of these situations? Here are some of the thoughts I wrote down from that day mixed with some thoughts I’m having today:
God will allow darkness to have its time, but the ultimate victory is God’s. Though it seems that the power of darkness is “winning,” this is not the reality. God has given us insight by the breath of the Almighty to see His wisdom and power in the midst of each situation.
Job is in utter turmoil, yet this trial will teach Job wisdom and truth about God he never understood (Job 42:1-6). Also, since God inspired Job’s story to be written down, it has comforted many other people Job has never known. Therefore, what Satan did to try and destroy Job’s witness, only multiplied Job’s impact for the Kingdom of God for generations.
In Daniel’s story it seems Babylon’s “gods” are more powerful than Yahweh since Babylon has conquered Judah. Yet, God is at work on the inside. The Babylonians believed in multiple “gods” and by admission of the Chaldeans, these gods do not dwell with human beings. Daniel announces, in the presence of the most powerful king of the known world, that there is only One God and He will reveal the mystery. This God dwells in the midst of His people (Numbers 35:34). God is showing He is not bound by the Temple the Babylonians destroyed in Jerusalem. Throughout the book of Daniel, we see how God displays His majesty in the midst of pagan nations. These kings will also be God’s instruments in spreading the news throughout their empires that Yahweh is God, making His name known to the nations. His Kingdom will not be stopped or silenced, even in the midst of Babylon.
Jesus. There are never enough words. Though darkness is permitted to have its “victory,” we know today that Jesus would strike the death blow to Satan, sin, and death in His resurrection. His obedience to walk through suffering has led to life. Through Him the Kingdom was made manifest and He is our King.
Today, we are His followers and we are called to participate in His Kingdom. (NOTE: Kingdom of God = God’s rule and reign; see the “resource” page for a great message on this topic). We should RESOLVE to protect our witness no matter what our circumstances are. We also need to consider that it is not only the absence of suffering, but THROUGH our suffering (loss, sickness, rejection, exile, injustice, refinement, etc.) that God’s Kingdom grows and multiplies; not only in our lives, but through our lives to other people. Though we do not seek suffering, but in times of suffering, who is allowed to be king in our lives? Will we continue to walk in allegiance to Jesus, the One true King, or will we allow darkness to break our resolve? Will be be part of manifesting/advancing the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness?
Lord God Almighty, who created heaven and earth. Thank you for revealing Your wisdom to us. We pray we are found faithfully living for Your Kingdom, in suffering and in thriving, in sickness and in health, in sadness and in happiness, in poverty and in abundance, day by day on while we are still on this earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
By the River Together 