Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagle’s feathers and nails became like bird’s claws. – Daniel 4:33
Throughout history kings and emperors typically have not been humble. This is because they wielded a tremendous amount of power and considered themselves above others. However, emperor Marcus Aurelius did not; he had a servant that followed him and was instructed every time a citizen would bow down or say a word of praise, the servant would whisper in his ear, “You are just a man and will die someday.”
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was arrogant and conceited. He sent three of Daniel’s closest Jewish friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to be burned alive in the fiery furnace for failing to worship the ninety-foot high golden statue he had erected.
He witnessed first-hand how God delivered the three, but he remained arrogant. God humbled him, and for seven years, he lived like an animal eating grass and went about with his nails and hair uncut.
The Holy Bible warns us about the sin of pride and tells us stories about the proud, and how it never ends well for them. If we are not humble, rest assured that when the day of God’s reckoning arrives, He will humble us in unimaginable ways.
