“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed til the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried, but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12: 8-10
It must have been an amazing time for Daniel. He’d had a rough life. First, he’d been taken captive to a heathen land- never to see his beloved Jerusalem again. Then, he’d put his life on the line in order to keep God’s dietary laws. After that, God had used him in interpreting the kings dream- again putting his life on the line. He’d seen astonishing things in his life. He would outlive at least 2 and maybe 3 kings. Each change meant that he had a choice: Do I protect myself and tell them what they want to hear or should I tell them the truth? He mulled it over and made his choice: he would put his life on the line for his God. No doubt about it, this was a man in love with and dedicated to his God!
Finally, when he’s old, God seems to have opened up his plans to this old man of God. Showing him things that scholars still argue over to this day. Instead of questioning much of it, he writes it all down. However, even this old man had his tipping point. When he could contain himself no longer, because he didn’t understand, he finally asked his Lord, “What shall be the end of these things?”
Incredibly, God essentially told him, “I’m not going to tell you. You don’t need to know. Trust me” I can Imagine that Daniel could’ve felt really put out. He could’ve thought about all the dedication and service he’d given and felt that God at least owed him an answer. Many a person would’ve ranted and raved and done just that. God you owe me!
Have you ever been there? I know I have. I believe that all of us have at one time or another. We seemingly give God everything that we have only to have God tell us, “No.” No to our needed knowledge. No to the needed job. No to the miracle we were looking for.
It seems like a slap in our face. The temptation is to give up, point our finger at God in anger, and walk away. How dare he not do what we asked! His word says I can have whatever I say, right?
Daniel didn’t do that. He simply trusted the character of his God to chart his lifes course. He figured that God would tell him all that he needed to know. Everything else was out of his control and left in the hands of the one who controls all things- Jesus!
When God doesn’t do what we want, we need to learn to trust him. We need to understand that he has a plan for our lives and that his plans are far better than what we can even ask, think, or dream. He knows what we need to endure to prepare us for being with him. He knows just the right amount of pressure needed to push out our impurities.
Why does he do this? Is he a mean God? Is he sadistic and takes pleasure in our suffering? Let’s have a look:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose” – Romans 8:28
Everything he does is for our good and his glory. Sometimes, he lets us in on what he’s doing. Sometimes, he keeps it a secret. All the time, it is to build our faith and relationship in him. We need to learn to trust his character and love for us. He hasn’t left us- even if we feel like he has. He’ll take care of the rest.
