Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Wednesday, November 26, Daniel 8:4, 20

"I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great." (4)

"As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia." (20)

So, a couple of years from the "night visions" of chapter 7, Daniel receives the visions in Daniel 8. They begin with a vision of a ram and a goat. First, the mighty ram: "It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last." (3b)

To remind us of this chapter, I titled it: Chapter 8: "The GREAT Ram meets its FATE in a FATE-ful battle with the GREAT Goat."

When I came to this chapter this morning and gave this title, I decided to add "Great" to the ram as well, because I want as many things to rhyme with "eight" as I can. He starts Great, but ends up "behind the EIGHT ball" in the end, which is an American slang meaning "in a difficult position". Phrases like this give me more pathways to remember.

Now, to keep this is in context to the time, this was about seven or so years before the Babylonians were swallowed up by the Medo/Persian empire. We learned from Gabriel later in this chapter that the "greater" horn (rhymes with 8) of the two from the Ram represents the Persians. This coincides with the "Bear" in Daniel 7.

We see how God gives the ram free reign initially. This is another "peak", for if you read this it seems like the battle with a "goat" comes rather quickly. But Persia reigned for two centuries after its conquest of Babylon.

But God chose, as we know, Cyrus the Persian to conquer the wicked Babylonian Empire to bring the Jews back home. And, as we read, God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar through Daniel in all sorts of ways, which finally ended with the King saying basically, to quote Pharaoh Yul Brynner in the Ten Commandments movie: "His God, IS God".

And we found in chapter 5 that his grandson Belshazzar, like many third-generation kids, ignored all of this and blasphemed the God of Israel, thus bringing a swift end to his career as co-regent of Babylon.

On that note, I think of my grand-children. It is my duty as grandfather to reflect Christ for them. Our ministries as grandparents are mentors, teaching life lessons and warning our children and their children not to be absorbed by this world, but be transformed by the love of Christ.

The next question is: Do they actually see the love of Christ in you? Or do they see nothing more than another person of the world, now retired and content to live out their lives as if Christ is nothing more than a sermon in church.

We need to be that "living sermon". It took me quite a few years to really let this sink in, but it has "sunk in". Now I pray constantly for my grandchildren and children (and now a "great grandchild" in the "cooker"). There is no greater gift than giving them the gift of eternal life.

I know that I can't save them, only God can. But I can be like Paul saying: "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved…" "For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:8-10, 13)

And here is where we come in: "and how are they to believe in him whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14c)

Yes, there is one thing you can do. Speak of Christ. And testify of Christ by your life. Set your affections on Him. Be heavenly minded so that you can be earthly good. Don't let your grandchildren be "Belshazzars".

Thanksgiving is coming soon, and in most families, they're stuck with you for at least an afternoon. Somewhere, in the midst of a stupid football game, take the time to introduce them to the real Lion—the Lion of the tribe of Judah. I am speaking to myself as well.

A good opening line to some of them may be, "How is your heart?"

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*ESV used unless noted*

Memory Helps:

Chapter 8: "The Great Ram meets its FATE in a FATE-ful battle with the GREAT Goat."