Nebuchadnezzar—Lessons in God’s Grace

Nebuchadnezzar—Lessons in God’s Grace

In Adam, God created one human race. When Adam sinned he changed himself and therefore all his offspring (the entire human race) are born infected with sin (Psalms 51:5). God promised him and Eve that He would send a Messiah to save humankind from eternal death (Genesis 3:15). Why? Because “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, [so] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV84).

“God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11 NIV84) but “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 NIV84). God has demonstrated this reality over and again throughout history, but Scripture provides especially poignant evidence of God’s love for all human beings and His desire to save all human beings through its story of the heathen king Nebuchadnezzar.

By the time Nebuchadnezzar was born and came to power, God had already selected the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be His helpers, the people who would be the guardians of Scripture, His representatives and evangelists, and the branch of the human family through whom the promised Messiah would come. It was God’s purpose for the Israelites to take the truth about Him to the world so that all human beings may be saved. This is why Satan targeted the Jewish nation so severely; he wanted to disrupt them from doing their mission. The evil one wanted to stop God’s plan of salvation. This battle between God working to bring the Messiah to save humanity and Satan fighting to stop the arrival of the Messiah by destroying the branch of the human family through whom He would come is the story of the Old Testament.

At the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s life recorded in Daniel, God’s rebellious helpers (the Israelites) were a subjugated people under the rule of Babylon. There were still a few faithful followers of Yahweh captive in that pagan capital, and God worked through their faithfulness to reach Nebuchadnezzar for His kingdom.

But God started working in Nebuchadnezzar’s life earlier—by first calling the pagan king to be His instrument in disciplining rebellious Israel:

Therefore the LORD Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the LORD, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations (Jeremiah 25 8, 9 NIV84; see also 27:6 and 43:10).

God called Nebuchadnezzar to fulfill His purposes before Nebuchadnezzar even knew who God was.

When the Jewish captives arrived in Babylon, God’s purpose in reaching all people was advanced through the faithfulness of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (They were given the Babylonian names Belteshazzar, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego.)

These four friends of God determined not to give any worship, value, credit, or support to the false gods of Babylon but to remain faithful to Yahweh in how they governed themselves and, thus, allow their lives to be useful to God in revealing the truth. They initially did this by refusing to eat the foods offered to the pagan gods and when the “king talked with them, … he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom” (Daniel 1:18–20 NIV84).

God was planting seeds in the pagan king’s heart—“something is different about these four.” Yet, while Nebuchadnezzar recognized the stark differences in the Hebrews, he did not connect their stellar abilities with the God of heaven at that time. More truths needed to be revealed.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Sometime later, God sent the king a dream about the future—the dream of the multi-metal statue, a dream that Nebuchadnezzar did not remember. The king was troubled and ordered his wisemen to tell him what he had dreamed and then its interpretation. The king declared that if the wisemen could not do both, he would have them all killed (Daniel 2:1–6).

When Daniel and his friends heard about the king’s edict, they prayed to God, who then revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel. The faithful Hebrew then relayed the dream and its meaning to the king. You can read all the details in Daniel 2:24–45, but the revelation had a profound effect on the king:

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery” (Daniel 2:46, 47 NIV84).

Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar placed Daniel and his friends into positions of leadership in Babylon.

Despite being captives to a hostile foreign power, Daniel and his friends, by staying faithful to God, enabled God to work through them to reveal truth to this pagan king.

However, Satan recognized the impact truth was having on Nebuchadnezzar and, realizing that his influence was now being challenged by these faithful friends of God, he sought to destroy them and their witness. He then tempted the king to deny the truth of the dream, to set up an image of gold, and to require every official in Babylon to worship it—and whoever refused would be thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:1–6).

Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego chose to stay faithful to Yahweh and refused to bow down to the idol. Even when the king gave them a second chance, and even though they did not know what God would do, only what God could do, they placed their full trust in God, saying:

O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up (Daniel 3:16–18 NIV84).

The king became furious and threw the three Hebrews into the fiery furnace, but Jesus chose to intervene and walked with them in the flames, protecting them from any harm. When the king called them out of the fire, he saw that only the ropes that bound their hands had been burned away and that not even the smell of smoke was upon them.

The king was stunned and realized that Daniel’s God is different from the gods he had come to know, and he openly acknowledged this fact. But while the king now knew that Daniel’s God is powerful; he didn’t yet know that God is good, righteous, and trustworthy. He still saw the true God through the lies of how pagan gods function. Therefore, the king demonstrated how his mind was still infected with the false methods of Satan in his response:

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way” (Daniel 3:28, 29 NIV84).

The king responded with imperialism, with force, with coercion of conscience, in his attempt to exalt the God of heaven. While he had replaced the golden image with the Creator God, his methods of evangelizing remained the same as when he set up the pagan idol—using the methods of Satan and the evil world, restriction of liberty, and coercion of conscience: “Speak against the God of these three and be brutally killed!” Such methods, even while promoting the truth, do not win friends but incites rebellion and creates enemies.

God was working to reach this pagan king, but true conversion, true salvation, is more than simply acknowledging that God is the one and only true God; it also requires the heart to be changed to operate upon the methods and principles of God, to be united with God in motive, desire, and love—to be one, to be at-one, with God (John 17:3, 20–23). God’s design laws for life still needed to be written upon Nebuchadnezzar’s heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). Without this, the king might have rightfully acknowledged God, but he was still not reborn to be part of God’s heavenly family.

The Next Step

Nebuchadnezzar’s false picture of God and the infection of sin in his heart, was revealed in how his fear, selfishness, and pride manifested even after all these miraculous events.

Nonetheless, God continued to love this pagan king, as He loves all people, so He intervened again by sending the king another dream about the future, which Daniel again interpreted for him (Daniel 4).

In this dream, the king was told that because of his arrogance, God would, as a therapeutic intervention, discipline him for seven years by humbling him, but that when he learned the lesson of truth, of where all his blessings had truly come, and humbled himself, he would be restored to sanity and his position of authority. This occurred just as God foretold in the dream.

Notice how, when Nebuchadnezzar was restored to his previous position, he again acknowledged the God of heaven as God—but now with a completely different mindset, motive, and method:

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 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 (Daniel 4:34–37 NIV84).

Prior to Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion of heart, he responded with imperialism, with power, might, coercion. He did acknowledge the God of heaven as a powerful being, but not as a righteous being and, thus, Nebuchadnezzar promoted falsehoods about God by creating a religious edict that would be enforced by external punishment. (Saul of Tarsus, prior to Damascus Road, did the same thing—believed in the true God but promoted his false beliefs about God with coercive methods, thus fighting against God. And God planted the seeds of truth in Saul’s heart through His faithful friend Stephen, but unlike the three worthies in the fiery furnace, God allowed Stephen to be martyred. God’s love was actively seeking to save souls in both situations through the faithful loyalty of His friends. In one place, God miraculously intervened to save their temporal lives, in the other, He did not.)

However, in his third experience, Nebuchadnezzar, while also acknowledging God as the powerful God of heaven, now acknowledged God as righteous, as a being worthy of trust, and he did not impose laws to force others to worship. Instead, he gave his testimony, presenting the truth while leaving others free to decide for themselves.

I encourage you to not rest satisfied with knowing about the God of heaven, but to surrender completely to Him, to know in your inmost being His methods, principles, character, and design laws for life. For all the truly converted people of God live like Jesus, presenting the truth in love while leaving others free!

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I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

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I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 8

Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 49

I came into the church at 21, but that is as far as it went. I was so confused about what love is. I couldn’t find it in the bible, because I am not a person that can read between the lines. I have no logic. I have read many, many books; trying to figure out the crux of the matter. They were helpful, but something was still missing. I have become very frustrated to the point of crying out to God, “Where can I go?”  I needed some basics.

I found two books, written by Timothy Jennings, MD, to be very helpful. God showed me that I had lived my whole life in fear. I didn’t even see it. Now, I do. God is so good.  I discovered the “The Remedy”  Dr. Jennings new book, “The God-Shaped Heart!” Oh, I was so excited, I purchased them right away.

I can get rid of most of my books, because “The Remedy” brings the Love of God out so clearly, even I can’t miss it. Now, I want to sit and read my Bible. Wow, what a revelation! It is just simply Awesome! I am so grateful to Jehovah Almighty for hearing my prayer for more understanding! I am so encouraged!

Jackie S.

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA