The story is clear in the book of Daniel. A king proclaiming
everything that was good in his kingdom as having been generated by him, and he
doesn’t give God the glory for his success. The king then has a dream and
Daniel interprets it as unfavorable. The king will lose his kingdom, be driven
into the wilderness, become as an animal and remain that way for seven years
until he turns toward heaven to proclaim God the creator and giver of all
things!
Seven years was a long time to wait for deliverance. Especially
to be estranged from everyone. Yet many people choose estrangement instead of
attachment. Why is that?
Families everywhere split over the smallest things. Someone
dies and the relatives fight over the physical property they think they’re
owed. Husbands and wives become estranged when they refuse to talk things out
and understand each other with God’s help. Brothers and sisters don’t speak to
each other for decades because of some small argument that doesn’t mean
anything today. It’s so painful.
It’s that way when someone decides to split from God, too.
First it’s easy to quit having the daily connection of prayer that you used to
have with Him. Those conversations when you told Him everything about yourself,
the hidden parts no one else knows. You begin to put aside reading His Word
once or twice a week and then pretty regularly. Before you know it you haven’t
had a conversation with Him in a month or two. It soon becomes a year or more.
Down the road a tragedy strikes and you lash out at God and
question His presence or worth altogether. You’re mad at Him, and for what
reason? Because you are really the one who walked away. He never moved, not one
step or inch. He never turned his back or marched off in anger, no matter how
many words of hate you flung at him.
The king in the story of Daniel had to go down a path of
separation for seven years. God never left his side or walked away—He stood
right next to him. God waited for the king to change his heart along with his
mind, and it took what must have seemed like an eternity.
In seven years children grow up, people die, and
relationships change. Is your separation worth all the hurt you’re going
through right now? Doesn’t your soul crave the lost relationship of a loving
Savior, a long lost friend, or family member? Aren’t you ready for the hurt to
end?
