God's Got A Plan
Chapter 11 of Daniel is one of the great chapters of the Bible. This chapter declares predictions more than 100 years before they ever happened. And this chapter is so specific that liberal critics of the Bible don't know what to do with it. They contest the only way this could have been written with the kind of accuracy we read is if it was written after the fact. Which we know is not the case because Daniel wrote this book during his lifetime as the events happened.Â
So in context, there is an angelic being who has come to be with Daniel, probably Gabriel. And Gabriel has come to Daniel to explain future events. He says this:
"And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these. — Daniel 11:2-4
This text is very clear about what God will do. Yet, in life, we all have moments we're unclear about what God will do. We can experience this lack of clarity on multiple levels. Sometimes it's confusion in our personal life brought about by disruptive events. Other times its confusion about what is happening in the world brought about by global events like we have experienced over the last couple of years. And when we don't understand God's plan, we can quickly become overwhelmed.
But in this text, Daniel, who is overwhelmed, is going to be told God's plan. Gabriel tells him the whole thing. He tells him exactly how things will play out in the future. He tells him about nations, riches, wars, leaders, and events in the future that he'll never see. And to some degree, I think knowing this was overwhelming on a whole other level. I would assume he goes from being overwhelmed by the event of the vision to being overwhelmed by understanding the meaning of the vision. This is because knowing God is overwhelming regardless.
But even though God is overwhelming, we can know this from chapter 11 — he's got a plan, he's working the plan, and we need to trust his plan. So today, when you get frustrated, overwhelmed, confused, or lack clarity about the future, preach this to yourself — "God's got a plan, and if I knew it, I'd be more overwhelmed than I am right now."
ASK THIS:Â Are you overwhelmed?
DO THIS:Â Trust his plan.
PRAY THIS:Â God, I am choosing to trust you and your plan today even though I don't get it right now.
PLAY THIS:Â Â Do It Again.
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Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Galations
God, I will always trust you and your plan today and everyday.
Amen
Amen! Thanks Pastor Vince! He ALONE is trustworthy! Proverbs 3:5-6; Deuteronomy 29:29 – Our great God has this, and us! 🙌👆
AMEN! It is called faith. Believing the unseen, unknown. Trust Him to know best and just be a faithful servant. This I need reminded of more often. Thank you Lord and thank you Vince Miller.
John 14
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.