Deeper Reflection
In Daniel 8, Daniel had a vision (Dan 8:1-14), and as he “sought to understand it” (Dan 8:15-19), Gabriel came and gave him “an understanding of the vision” (Dan 8:20-27). Daniel saw a “ram” – “Media and Persia” (v.20) – “butting” at the nations in all directions – “westward, northward and southward” (v.4). The ram appears to be an almighty power, for “no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power” (v.4).Between 9 May and 22 June 1940, Germany under Adolf Hitler launched a remarkable assault, known as blitzkrieg – “lightning war”, on north-west Europe in the Battle of France. Blitzkrieg refers to a series of quick and decisive short battles to deliver a knockout blow to an enemy state before it could fully mobilise. And by this “lightning attack”, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium fell into Hitler’s hand within seven weeks! Hitler seemed to be almighty then.Every super-powerful nation or individual always appears to be all-powerful at its point of time in history. Then, egoistic presumptuousness creeps in. The “almightiness” is only appearance, not reality. This kind of “almighty” power results in “he did as he pleased” (v.4). So, every nation and people that had fallen to this ram were powerless and at his mercy. And inevitably, out of this comes arrogant self-glorification: “…and magnified himself ” (v.4). The application in our discipleship is: Do not think more highly of myself than I ought to think; but to think with sound judgment, according to what God has called me to and given me (Rom 12:3).

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⁵⁷ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10