Daniel 4:34-37
For over two decades, a defiant, cocky man by the name of Napoleon created turmoil in Europe. Despite his small stature of 5’2″, he caused great trouble for people around him. In a bit to regain some of the power he had lost due to a forced exile, Napoleon led his army in battles of devastation across Europe.
On June 18, 1815, Napoleon and his armies faced the allied armies of England, Prussia, Russia, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands, led by the Duke of Wellington. Before the battle commenced, Napoleon, speaking to his commanding officer said, “We will put the infantry here, the cavalry there, and the artillery in that spot. At the end of the day, England will be at the feet of France, and Wellington will be the prisoner of Napoleon.
The officer responded, “But we must not forget that man proposes and God disposes.” In his typical arrogance, Napoleon stood as straight and tall as his 5’2″ frame would allow and replied, “I want you to understand, sir, that Napoleon proposes and Napoleon disposes.”
Victor Hugo wrote this about the battle, “From that moment, Waterloo was lost, for God sent rain and hail so that the troops of Napoleon could not maneuver as he had planned, and on the night of the battle, it was Napoleon who was prisoner of Wellington, and France was at the feet of England.”
Pride is a ruthless taskmaster. It will convince us that we have all the answers and that we know better than God.
The book of Daniel, in its early chapters, tells us as much about Nebuchadnezzar as it does about Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar was a man given to dreams. He had a whole range of wise men on his payroll – magicians, enchanters astrologers, and diviners. He must have paid a lot of attention to those dreams.