Who's In Control?

Individual lives sometimes spin out of control. Families, churches, businesses, cities, or governments can lose control. Sometimes the whole world seems out of control. When no one seems capable of reining in the chaos, is the world under random chance, left to fate and coincidence, or is there someone in control?

The book of Daniel powerfully reveals the answer as to Who is in control. The book leaves no doubt that there is an ultimate controlling power, that the power is God, and that God uses all things to accomplish His plans.

When Daniel praised God for revealing King Nebuchadnezzar's dream to him, he stated, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings" (2:20-21). Daniel knew that God was in charge of bestowing wisdom and power, of causing transitions in world systems and eras, and of changing governments. That's a lot of control.

When Daniel prepared to relay God's answer to Nebuchadnezzar about what his dream meant, he told the king this truth: "You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory ... He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all" (2:37-38). Daniel made clear that this powerful king was established and victorious only because of God's intervention. That's a lot of control.

As Daniel described the final world kingdom, he again stated that God would both establish, maintain, and preserve that kingdom. "The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed" (2:44). God will make that kingdom last forever, and He will conquer every power on earth to do so. That's a lot of control.

In a subsequent dream, Nebuchadnezzar heard a voice declaring, "The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes" (4:17). When Daniel explained the dream, he confirmed the message, stating, "The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes" (4:25). "It is Heaven that rules" (4:26). Every king and ruler rules at the pleasure of God. That's a lot of control.

A year later, Nebuchadnezzar proudly touted his own efforts in establishing himself and his great kingdom. God responded, "Sovereignty has been removed from you" (4:31). "The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes" (4:32). God wanted to make it very clear to Nebuchadnezzar what the source of his power was and where his success came from. The most powerful king on earth actually had no power at all. God reduced him to the state of a beast, living in the wild, and eating grass for seven years. That's a lot of control.

Nebuchadnezzar learned his lesson. He humbled himself before God and recognized, "He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'" (4:35). Not a single person on earth, nor the whole earth together, can stop God's hand. That's a lot of control.

When Nebuchadnezzar's son Belshazzar arrogantly used the temple treasures for his drunken feast, God intervened with the frightening experience of writing on the wall. Daniel was called, and he recounted the stories and lessons of Nebuchadnezzar. He reminded, "The Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father" (5:18). "Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him" (5:19). "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne" (5:20). Daniel instructed Belshazzar that God had both established Nebuchadnezzar to great power and had also humbled him to the lowest level. That's a lot of control.

Daniel declared a similar message to Belshazzar as he had given to his father. Daniel told him, "The Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind" (5:21). Earthly kings may reign at His pleasure, but they are not really in control. They have no control. When God determines that their time is up, He stops them and removes them. "God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. ... Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians" (5:26&28). God can bring powerful empires to an end. That's a lot of control.

The world still thinks it is in control. Powerful leaders exert themselves. They control their people. They abuse their citizens. They kill their enemies. They build up power and armies, and they think that they cannot be stopped. God gave Daniel a dream that revealed the final kingdom that will come. As Daniel saw the future play out, He observed the reigning Messiah. "To Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom" (7:14). The world powers waged war, thinking they could overpower the King and His subjects "Until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed" (7:22). The Anti-Christ "will even oppose the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human agency" (8:25). God will supernaturally destroy this powerful leader and his vast army. God will achieve what no human leader has ever accomplished. He will vanquish every enemy, and He will bring world peace. That's a lot of control.

When things seem to be out of control, the Mighty God, the Most High, is in fact in control. He can stop every power. He can harness and restrain every force. No person or nation or power can go any further than God allows it to go. Under God's mighty hand, the world is never out of control. Instead, it is securely under the control of the One who uses all things to accomplish His purposes.