Sept 7

Even though the reason that we see so much information about the surrounding nations of is that the Jews were disobedient and were carried into captivity, it's interesting to see how God's hand is on the surrounding nations. "Controlling" would be too strong a word, because of course God always gives us free will, but we certainly get a chance to see how He is working in the course of human history in nations other than Israel.

Nebuchadnezzar is an odd duck. He actually believes in God and believes he is the Most High God. But he never quite gets to the point where he believes it enough let it change his life and his worsphip and renounce other gods. He does initially realize that his success is a gift from God, but gradually he becomes more and more prideful and things go very badly for him.

Interestingly, Sadam Hussien believed that he was the successor of Nebuchadnezzar or even the late king reincarnated. His dream was to take over surrounding nations and especially Israel/Jerusalem as Nebuchadnezzar had. He commisioined the rebuilding of the ancient hanging gardens of Babylon and had his name incribed on every brick just as Nebucenchadnezzer had (http://www.aish.com/jw/j/48960566.html) He did end up being like him, but not in the way he imagined! Both men end up scrounging arund in the dirt like animals. Sadam was eventually hanged. Nebuchandnezzer faired better because he looked up and remembered God.