Know Who is in Control
And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.
Daniel 4:26 (ESV)
“That’s the way life goes.”
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
These responses are used to explain events in life that are beyond our control. Somehow, saying these idioms, makes undesirable occurrences more easily accepted or excused. However, these overused catch phrases allow compromise and ignore God’s involvement. We’re apt to resist or deny reality or even shrug our shoulders and say, “Oh, well.”
After tiring of hearing these phrases, I selected a more appropriate phrase to explain things that appear to be coincidences or uncontrollable.
“That’s the way God rocks,” is my attempt to explain that God determines everything. No coincidences, mistakes, or unexplainable.
In the Old Testament book of Daniel in chapters two through seven, the Hebrew language was discontinued, and Aramaic was used. Therefore “LORD” (or Yahweh) wasn’t written. Instead, “God of Heaven,” “Most High,” and “Heaven rules” were repeated. King Nebuchadnezzar, king over Babylon, acknowledged God but worshiped his own gods. Daniel 4:19-24 is Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s second recorded dream. Nebuchadnezzar is the strong tree in the dream that reached visibly into heaven. A holy one comes down from heaven with instructions to chop down the tree but leave the stump and roots to be driven away, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will (Daniel 4:25 ESV).
Another Old Testament book is Esther which was also written during the Jews’ captivity in Babylon. God is never mentioned by name… yet it’s crystal clear that divine intervention prevented the Jews’ annihilation and near-death situations that Esther and Mordecai courageously encountered.
Do you know that God is in control even though everything around us looks bleak and discouraging? Just as Daniel and Esther personally knew and trusted the One Who is in control so can we.
Karen Sims
