BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusનમૂનો

At this point in the story, Daniel’s ability to interpret other people’s mysterious dreams has earned him a good reputation. But interpreting his own dreams? That’s a different story.

Daniel’s visions are weird. Like, really weird. A lion soars out of a stormy sea on the wings of an eagle, only to land with two feet on the shore. A bear breaks the tumultuous surface of the water with three rib bones clamped between its teeth. A leopard with four heads and four wings circles overhead. Last and most terrifying of all, a monstrous mutant with 10 horns on its head lumbers onto the beach, snorting with rage.

If these four bizarre beasts have you baffled, you’re not alone. Even Daniel is stumped. So an angelic figure steps in to explain that the first three beasts are powerful kings who subdue the world through violent conquest. The 10-horned super beast with iron teeth? That one is different, much more intense, ultimately destroying those other nations and devouring the whole world (Dan. 7:23).

As if those visions weren’t strange enough, Daniel sees more peculiar creatures. A charging ram with mismatched horns, a rampaging unicorn-style goat, and a talking horn that sprouts into a crazy king. Daniel is scratching his head, needing more angelic help with interpretation.

Be careful with biblical visions. It’s easy (and common) to read things into them that aren’t there. At times, the visions seem directly related to realities in or around Daniel’s day. At other times, the visions seem to peer into the future.

However we interpret their complexities, the big picture seems to be about rulers and empires who will continue using violence to dominate one another until God finally ends it. While that end will come through a human “king” (Dan. 8:23), a true human being (or son of man), that ruler will never depend on violence or deceit (Dan. 8:25) to tame the beasts.

Still, the beasts will be tamed.

Watch the video to learn how Jesus, the Son of Man, defeats the violence and evil of beastly empires.

Reflection Questions

• Compare today’s reading to Revelation 13. What common themes and imagery do you notice? What message might John be communicating through his hyperlinks to Daniel’s visions of beasts that symbolize proud, violent empires?
• Look up 1 Kings 21:27-29, Jonah 3:3-8, and Esther 4:15-16. What have you learned from these passages about the meaning of sackcloth, ashes, and fasting in the Hebrew Bible? What does this show you about Daniel’s prayer in chapter 9?