Inspire 21-Day Devotional: Illuminating God's Wordਨਮੂਨਾ

WEEK 2, DAY 2: CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?

The Bible Is Prophetic

“Tell me my dream, or die.” This was the impossible task and dire threat King Nebuchadnezzar set before Daniel and all the other wise men of Babylon. Upon hearing this decree, Daniel, a teenager and recent Judean exile to Babylon, went to his three hometown friends and did the only thing he knew to do in such an impossible situation: they prayed to God for help. That very night, God answered their prayer when he revealed to Daniel the content of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in a vision.

The next day, Daniel boldly went before Nebuchadnezzar to tell him his dream and interpret it. The large statue that Nebuchadnezzar had seen? This was symbolic of four mighty kingdoms that would rise to power. First, there would be the Babylonians, ruled by Nebuchadnezzar himself—the head of gold. Three more kingdoms would follow—one represented by the chest and arms of silver (Medo-Persia), another by the belly and thighs of bronze (Greece), and yet another still by the legs of iron and feet of iron and clay (Rome). After this, a fifth and final kingdom—represented by the stone cut from the mountain “by no human hand”—would crush these kingdoms and establish an eternal dominion. No wonder Nebuchadnezzar had been frightened by his dream! Nebuchadnezzar was astounded by Daniel’s ability to recount and interpret his dream. In response, he did the only thing he knew to do: He “fell upon his face” and declared, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery” (Daniel 2:46–47).

Not all prophecies in the Bible are as miraculous as Daniel’s prophecy about the rise and fall of kingdoms on the earth. In fact, the role of the prophet was much more about forth-telling than it was about fore-telling. The predictive element of biblical prophecy is significant nonetheless, and it is given to us to strengthen our faith in the God who not only knows the future, but is actively working to ensure that things progress according to his will. And what is this future? As Daniel prophesied, it is centered around Jesus Christ and the establishment of his eternal kingdom on the earth. Through him, God will fulfill all of his promises and all of his prophecies.

Artifact: The Alexander Mosaic

The Alexander Mosaic, also known as the Battle of Issus Mosaic, was discovered on the floor of a Roman house in Pompeii, having been preserved by the volcanic ash and sediment from Mount Vesuvius. Dating to the late 2nd century BC, the presence of this mosaic in a Roman home shows that Alexander the Great was an inspirational figure not just for the Greeks but also for the Romans.

The scene depicted in the mosaic is the climax of the Battle of Issus. Alexander, depicted on the left-hand side, is riding on his mighty war-horse Bucephalus and has his gaze fixed on Darius III, King of Persia. Although the Persian spears are still pointed toward the Greeks, Darius is already beginning to retreat. This battle would be decisive in ending Persian dominance and ushering in Greek rule, a transition of power that Daniel had prophesied over two hundred years before.

Q1. What are the main themes or ideas of the Scripture passage?

Q2. What does this devotional tell me about who God is?

Q3. How does this devotional challenge or encourage me?

Q4. What specific action can I take to live out this teaching?

Q5. Who should I share this with for encouragement or accountability?