One of my favorite sections of the Bible as an adult is in Daniel. Chapter 4 describes a dream that Nebuchadnezzar has which Belteshazzar (Daniel) interprets.
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, who put his faith in wise men and astrologers, was the head of a world empire. Nebuchadnezzar, a gentile, was ruler over the exiled Israelites, BUT only because God ordained this. Vs. 17 says “…the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.”
The story gets even better though. Nebuchadnezzar was told to renounce his sins, and be kind to the oppressed so that his prosperity would continue, OR he would be driven away from people and live with the wild animals. This seems like a pretty easy choice, but as you can imagine, this wasn’t something Nebuchadnezzar would choose to do the easy way.
Twelve months later Nebuchadnezzar was walking along his rooftop declaring his greatness, and before he even finished his sentence he received his consequence. Vs. 33 tells us “He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.” Can you imagine a world leader going through this?
After the set time had passed, Nebuchadnezzar was restored to his throne and became greater than before, but not until he honored and glorified God. Vs. 37 tells us “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still sovereign over all kingdoms on earth.
I may chafe under many “rulers”, and I do exercise my rights as a citizen, BUT ultimately all of us, just like Nebuchadnezzar, will praise and acknowledge the Most High, and I take comfort in knowing that He is the one in control. My prayer is that you will take comfort too.