“What can God Do?” Answer… “Whatever He chooses.” Next question… “Why can He do it?” Answer… “Because He is God.”
Here is another mysterious way of God that He didn’t ask anyone’s permission to do. This story might be familiar… if not, get ready!
In Daniel 4:28-35 it is written that Nebuchadnezzar became proud of himself. So God took his sanity for seven years. During that time Nebuchadnezzar at grass like a cow… he slept outside the whole time… his hair went uncut… and his fingernails grew to look like bird claws. GOD took away his sanity for 7 years. Then… at the end of seven years Nebuchadnezzar chose to honor God and his sanity was restored. NO!! That is NOT what happened. Instead… GOD gave him his sanity back!
At the end of the seven years… after GOD restored his sanity… Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t angry at God because, GOD restored his sanity, therefore he had a new worshipful submission to God. Consider Nebuchadnezzar’s words from Daniel 4:34-35…
I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”
The part that I highlighted sounds a lot like what Paul wrote in Romans 9…
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use?
Let this be a lesson for us… a cautionary tale from history. God is God and we aren’t. God is sovereign over everything and everyone everywhere. He does as He wills and we worship Him for He alone is worthy to be worshipped!
If you’d like to read the passage rather than following the link above, here it is…
Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. 34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. ESV