Who Should You Ask?

Daniel 2 gives an encounter between Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar. The King had a dream that disturbed him, and he wanted someone to tell him what it meant. He first calls upon all the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers in verse 2 (NIV). The king considered these people to be the wisest in his kingdom. They wanted the king to tell them the dream so they could interpret it for him, but the king had another idea. He somehow knew they might not be entirely honest with him about the interpretation and instructed them to tell him the dream and interpret it or face death (v.5-9). The interesting part about this exchange is what the wise men say in verse 11, “No one can reveal it to the king except gods, and they do not live among men,” (NIV). Even they knew what the king asked could only be done by gods. The king didn’t like that answer and ordered all the “wise men” killed.

Enter Daniel. He asked the king for time to interpret the dream. He didn’t go to his other friends. He went to God. God revealed the dream to Daniel in a vision and took it to the king. Daniel again tells the king that no wise man can explain the dream to him but the God in heaven revealed the mystery to him (v. 27-28). The king recognized that Daniel’s God is the God of gods and Lord of kings and promoted Daniel.

Daniel not only helped the king, but he also saved himself and all the other “wise men” in the kingdom by seeking the right source of direction. The king didn’t want to tell the wise men first because he knew that when you ask people for advice, their advice can be influenced by their own thoughts and feelings. They can accidentally lead us astray based on what they think and feel. God is the only one who sees all the things and won’t steer us toward the wrong thing with feelings. He is the only one who knows our hearts and what purpose we have on this Earth. It is important to have wise people around you. Make sure those people ultimately tell you to seek God and His direction. You can survive taking advice from people. Why not thrive and seek the advice of God who sees everything?