Read Daniel 9:20-27
I was impressed by how Daniel goes from earnestly praying for himself and his people to having the angel Gabriel appear suddenly in his presence. God had heard Daniel’s prayer and how he was wrestling with the seventy-year issue part of Jeremiah’s prophecy. Daniel had an inquiring mind, and God came to the rescue.
Daniel was probably startled by Gabriel’s arrival as well as the message he brought. Daniel’s prayer had caused quite a stir in the heavenly realm. Can you imagine hearing Gabriel’s words, “The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God.” Hearing that I was precious to God would have stopped me in my tracks.
We are precious to God. 1 John 3:1 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” Take a moment just to take that word into your heart. You are loved by God.
Gabriel’s message was an explanation given to Daniel as to what would happen in the future. There are historical facts that match up with future dates if you do the math. Historically, these dates occurred in the gap of time between the Old and New Testament. Daniel’s vision from God gives us some Biblical history about that “gap” time.
Presumably the “bad guy” was Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was known as a very cruel Greek leader. So after the Babylonian and the Persian regimes fell, the Greeks took power over the region. The exiles had returned and rebuilt the temple and were relearning the ways of being a chosen people. That’s where our Bible history ends.
I like how God also shared a future expectation with Abraham in Genesis 15. You’ll recall God told Abraham that his descendants would “be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.” God’s vision goes on in more detail as well, but we can clearly see Egypt as the foreign land.
God shares his visions and plans with select individuals. Both Daniel and Abraham had been seeking God’s favor. Both visions played out in history years later just as these men had been shown.
What did you make of the mention of the “anointed one”? With lower case letters “a” and “o,” this could mean any king or person having the favor of God. Our Messiah and king would also fit this description. Jesus’ death could have looked like he’d accomplished nothing, but we know better. Outsiders would not have built the relationship or known the love and acceptance Jesus brings.
Reading apocalyptic passages requires a different approach in reaching understanding. Any time we approach God’s word we need to look for God. Where did you see God today? How did he move in your heart today?
Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for revealing yourself to me today. I’ve always imagined how cool it would be to get a vision from you, but receiving the understanding at the same time is quite a blessing. Speak to my heart again and again. I love the peace you continually provide me. The message coming in loud and clear is “do not fear.” Thank you for your provisions. Use me to help others find you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
