“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

When King Nebuchadnezzar became full of pride, he had a great statue erected of himself as earth’s ruler. Then he made a law that everyone had to bow down and worship it. Anyone who would not kneel to the statue would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar had been pleased with Daniel’s three Hebrew friends for they were excellent servants in the Babylonian kingdom. He did not expect them to refuse to worship the statue, but that’s what they did because they loved God and were loyal to Him. The king was furious and had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and the three Hebrews were thrown into it. Even the soldiers who bound them and threw them into the furnace were killed by the extreme heat. Daniel 3:20-22

The king and his lords were amazed when another person was seen with the Hebrews walking around in the furnace—one “like unto the son of God.” None of them was hurt! Nebuchadnezzar realized that the God of the Hebrews was powerful and commanded the people to worship him.

But Nebuchadnezzar was still full of pride because of his riches and power as king of Babylon. He became insane and acted as though he were a beast. He lived with the animals in the fields and ate grass like cows. He remained that way for seven years before his reason returned.

Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, became king of Babylon. He was also full of pride. The kingdom was rich and there was much idleness. All these things helped to bring about the fall of Babylon.

Belshazzar had a great feast for a thousand of his officers to celebrate the greatness of Babylon. While they were eating and drinking, the fingers of a man’s hand were suddenly seen writing upon the wall of the palace in letters of fire: Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin. The king asked Daniel for an interpretation and what he heard was like a crushing blow: “God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5:26-28

That night Cyrus the Mede and his army marched into Babylon through the dried-up river bed and captured the city which the Babylonians thought could never be taken. King Belshazzar was put to death and Cyrus became king!

Daniel told the king the meaning of the handwriting on the wall.