[From the version for families with children]
Daniel gets a vision of the nations of the world playing a huge game of tug-o-war with each other. It’s scary! Here are the countries: Syria in the north, Egypt in the south. Verse three refers to Alexander the Great who added to the empire of Greece after his conquest of Persia.
One of the kings, Antiochus IV of Syria, gave himself the nickname, “Epiphanes,” meaning, “God is Manifest.” He became so crazy with arrogance and pride that folks gave him the name “Epimanes,” “Madman.” We might have called him an”Epimaniac”!
When anyone pushes God out of life and instead, places him or herself as more important, we are at the risk of becoming a bit crazy! We may not have to be put in a straight-jacket and taken to a hospital, but life will never have that joy, energy and purpose when we think only of ourselves and what we want. God made us to love and serve Him; anything else will honestly make us a bit nuts!
Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year, we read the Book of Daniel.
What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook. You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.
The Bible Through the Seasons 