The Incomprehensible Birth - 2nd installment
09/12/07 17:02
Ehud
suggested that they move nearer the hearth before
Shimshai began. The tea would warm their bones while
the fire would warm their bodies. As Ehud moved his
chair and took his seat, Shimshai poked and stoked
the fire. Throwing another log on he positioned
himself, squatting to tend the fire for just a
moment. As he was poking the fire and stirring up the
coals, he never took his eyes off his work. He seemed
to be staring past the flames as he began to tell his
friend his wonderful news. “As I was
saying,” Shimshai began, “I am not given
over to fancy stories. Do you not recall how long we
had studied together our own historians and Jewish
manuscripts concerning Daniel, the servant of King
Nebuchadnezzar? He was Jewish you know. We both have
witnessed the fulfillment of his prophecies. Just as
he wrote that Cyrus would conquer the Babylonians and
the Persians would fall by the hands of the Greeks,
so he also said that the Jews would return to
Jerusalem. They have been living there now for nearly
five hundred years! The story that I want you to
remember in particular was the one of Daniel’s
friends, who were saved from the flames of
Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace. If you recall
correctly, the king called them out of the furnace
after seeing not three men, but four! But the fourth
never came out. I always wondered where he
went!”
“Don’t you just count that as a hallucination of a man in rage” Ehud interrupted.
“I would normally, but it seems to me that he asked for verification by his own officials.” But that’s not the only amazing story surrounding these Jewish men. I also remember that when they were first brought into Nebuchadnezzar’s service, the king had a dream. He had asked all of his wise men to tell him his dream and none could do so. The king was enraged and threatened to kill them all. When they tried to rebut, saying that only the gods could tell them his dream, they also concluded that the gods do not dwell with humans. Therefore, what the king asked for was impossible to do. This did not stop the king’s fury and he had appointed a time for them all to be killed. Well, it just so happened that Daniel came in to the king’s presence and told the king his dream! And this was the next day! Why, I have a hard enough time recounting my own dreams just after I wake up from them! Tell me, Ehud, how could Daniel know another man’s dream?”
Ehud took a sip of tea. To answer that question, he would have to admit that Daniel was told the dream by a god, just as Daniel claimed. Ehud wasn’t ready for that, at least not the God of Daniel. For Daniel claimed that his God was God only and God over all. Daniel claimed that his God would set up His kingdom and that this kingdom would remain forever. This doctrine didn’t sit well with people who were not Jewish. The Gentile nations had destroyed the Jewish people and their final destruction would come at the hands of the Romans. He wasn’t about to answer that question.
“I know what you are thinking Ehud.” Shimshai laughed. “But tell me: how is it that the Jews are living in their land again. Didn’t their prophet, Isaiah I believe, didn’t he predict that Cyrus would decree them back into their homeland?
Ehud reluctantly shook his had affirmatively. “Yes, yes and I think he even prophesied that the Israel nation would be an everlasting kingdom and…”
“Don’t you just count that as a hallucination of a man in rage” Ehud interrupted.
“I would normally, but it seems to me that he asked for verification by his own officials.” But that’s not the only amazing story surrounding these Jewish men. I also remember that when they were first brought into Nebuchadnezzar’s service, the king had a dream. He had asked all of his wise men to tell him his dream and none could do so. The king was enraged and threatened to kill them all. When they tried to rebut, saying that only the gods could tell them his dream, they also concluded that the gods do not dwell with humans. Therefore, what the king asked for was impossible to do. This did not stop the king’s fury and he had appointed a time for them all to be killed. Well, it just so happened that Daniel came in to the king’s presence and told the king his dream! And this was the next day! Why, I have a hard enough time recounting my own dreams just after I wake up from them! Tell me, Ehud, how could Daniel know another man’s dream?”
Ehud took a sip of tea. To answer that question, he would have to admit that Daniel was told the dream by a god, just as Daniel claimed. Ehud wasn’t ready for that, at least not the God of Daniel. For Daniel claimed that his God was God only and God over all. Daniel claimed that his God would set up His kingdom and that this kingdom would remain forever. This doctrine didn’t sit well with people who were not Jewish. The Gentile nations had destroyed the Jewish people and their final destruction would come at the hands of the Romans. He wasn’t about to answer that question.
“I know what you are thinking Ehud.” Shimshai laughed. “But tell me: how is it that the Jews are living in their land again. Didn’t their prophet, Isaiah I believe, didn’t he predict that Cyrus would decree them back into their homeland?
Ehud reluctantly shook his had affirmatively. “Yes, yes and I think he even prophesied that the Israel nation would be an everlasting kingdom and…”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.” Shimshai exclaimed. To be continued…
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