One more observation from the great book of Daniel: In some ways this story seems to compare the ambition of man with the submission man can have to God. Man focuses on conquering other men and building empires in Daniel. We see the fall of Jerusalem and the rise and fall of Babylon, the rise of Persia and the foretelling of Greece and Rome (including the manner of their conquests and the fact of their collapse). Jerusalem was restored and the people of Israel continue today but the other empires are long gone. In the person of Daniel we see one who was a prisoner of men, one of the conquered captives taken from Jerusalem. Daniel did not have empire building on earth as an ambition. His one focus was to be submitted to God and then God completed His purpose for Daniel, including a big impact on the kings he served from both Babylon and Persia. This underscores a key thought. We can choose to build temporary empires of our own ambition that will eventually crumble or be conquered or fade when we depart this life.....or we can choose to bow before the living God, as Daniel did, and find the purpose He has for us in building the one Kingdom that will continue forever.
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Daniel 2:21 He (God) controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
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blessings,
Rob Smith
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