Year 6, Day 342: Daniel 8

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Rams.  Goats.  Gesticulations of power.  I love the personification of humanity in this culture.

The first thing that we see is the representation of the ram.  It has two horns, one grow in up later than the other.  This is a great personification of the Persian Empire, which joined up with the Medes.  We know that the Persians overthrow the Babylonians and rule in the region for quite some time.

We then see a goat with a single horn rise up in power.  The single horn, Alexander the Great of the Greek Empire, breaks.  It is replaced with four horns, which are the Greek rulers that split Alexander’s kingdom.

What is very unique about this vision is the action of the ram and the goat.  Do you see the ram?  It goes back and forth, putting on big displays of its power.  It is convinced that it is unstoppable.  When the goat appears, it naturally challenges the ram.  The goat and the ram have conflict and the goat wins.  The goat then swells with power until it, too, is stopped.  Furthermore, as the power of this goat grows, it begins to interfere with God and the worship of Him.

I find this to be a great portrayal of humanity, especially human beings in power.  When human beings become powerful, more often than not that power is used for great displays.  Human beings with great power tend to use that power to elevate themselves over others.  That is what the ram and the goat are doing here.  They are using their power to show how great they are.  They are using their power to intimidate others and keep their status.  That what human beings do.

Additionally, this can be taken to another level.  Remember, the goat interferes with the worship of God.  This is another great lesson to learn about humanity.  Often when we grow in power, we become reliant upon ourselves.  When we become accustomed to rely upon our own power, we stop relying upon God.  We stop worshipping Him.  We stop being humble before Him.  As we rise in power, we must be careful to not let it affect us as it affects the goat.  Our power should not be our prelude to walking away from God.

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