This week we wrapped up our unit in Daniel by digging into to chapter 7. And you can be sure that Daniel's dream that we read about seems quite unusual to almost everyone who reads it. Daniel sees four very unique creatures. A lion with wings. A bear with ribs in its mouth. A leopard with four wings and four heads. And finally a large, scary beast with iron teeth and ten horns. Obviously, this is not self-explanatory; but the great news is that Daniel shares the interpretation as well. Each of the animals represents a powerful kingdom that will come to power. But in the end regardless of just how powerful they are, only one King will reign forever. Earthly kingdoms fall, but God's kingdom is not bound by the same limits of human kings.
Perhaps it is difficult for you to understand why Daniel's strange dream is so important, and why your dream about pirates and flying beavers living in a sandcastle on Mars doesn't carry the same weight. The short answer to that is that God, in His great wisdom, chose to reveal Himself differently to different people. But for another piece of helpful evidence, we can actually look back at the second chapter of Daniel, where King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a status built with different materials. The short summary is that each material represented a different, powerful kingdom. And in verse 44 we read, "the God of the heavens will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed... It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever." Does that sound familiar? The message is consistent that the rule of people will not last, but the rule of King Jesus is eternal.
This week, remember that God is not scared or shaken when things are crazy in the world. Jesus will be coming again to make all things new, and we can have hope in uncertain times.
Starter questions for the week:
Elementary
- If you had the dream Daniel had about the 4 beasts, what would be your initial reaction?
- Why can you be confident that God's kingdom is the only lasting kingdom?
Preschool
- What's the strangest dream you remember?
- Only one king will reign forever, who is it?