MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
January 21, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
GOD INCREASES AND DESTROYS NATIONS
“He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and straighteneth them again.” Job 12: 23, KJV.
Read Habakkuk 1: 5-17 within this topic’s context and thought.
Now follows this elucidation of Daniel chapter two by E. G. White in her book, Prophets & Kings, pp. 499, 500. All emphasis and bracketed words provided.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the whole composite metallic image of a man represents the most powerful kingdoms, empires, and nations of earth starting with ancient Babylon. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream for him, declaring:
“In the days of these kings [kingdoms] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, WHICH SHALL NEVER BE DESTROYED: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall BREAK INTO PIECES AND CONSUME ALL THESE KINGDOMS, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the STONE was cut out of the mountain WITHOUT HANDS, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold [the metallic symbols of the world’s empires], the great GOD hath made it known to the king, WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.’
“The king was convinced of the truth of the interpretation, and IN HUMILITY AND AWE [‘fear’] he ‘fell upon his face and worshipped’, saying, ‘Of a truth it is, that YOUR GOD IS A GOD OF GODS, and a LORD OF KINGS, and a REVEALER OF SECRETS, seeing thou [Daniel] couldest reveal this secret.’
“Nebuchadnezzar revoked the decree for the destruction of the wisemen [of Babylon]. Their lives were SPARED because of Daniel’s connection with the Revealer of secrets. . . .
“In the annals of human history, THE GROWTH OF NATIONS, the rise and fall of empires, appear AS IF dependent on the will and prowess of MAN; the shaping of events SEEMS , to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the Word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, ABOVE, BEHIND, AND THROUGH ALL THE PLAY AND COUNTER PLAY of human interest and power and passions, the AGENCIES OF THE ALL-MERCIFUL ONE, silently, patiently working out the counsels of HIS OWN WILL.
“In words of matchless beauty and tenderness, the apostle Paul sets before the sages of Athens the DIVINE PURPOSE in the creation and distribution of RACES AND NATIONS. ‘God that hath made the world and all things therein,’ declared the apostle, hath made ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN FOR TO DWELL UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, and hath determined THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED, and the BOUNDS [boundaries] of their habitation; THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD, IF HAPLY they might feel after Him, AND FIND HIM.’ (Acts 17: 24-27, KJV).” End quote.
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.