September 21

The Writing on the Wall - Daniel 5:1-31, The Seventy "Sevens" - Daniel 9:1-27

The angel Gabriel from the movie Constantine.

"As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed."

The Angel Gabriel to Daniel, Daniel 9:23

So I read Gabriel's explanation to Daniel and, well, I frankly can't figure it out. But then, I suppose Daniel, the man with "the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems," [Dan. 5:12] had no problem figuring it out. I just wonder why he didn't offer an explanation to God's explanation?

I wonder why God isn't more straightforward? Why the need for prophets and problem-solvers and interpreters of dreams? Why all the mystery when we regularly misinterpret even the most obvious of directions? Is it so we have to work at it? Is it because God is so beyond us that He can't possibly put it in ways we can understand? I don't think so.

I believe its so we rely on him and not ourselves. If we could figure it out, we'd think ourselves on par with the Lord. We do, even in our ignorance.

Lord knows.