The recent election of 2004 to choose the next President of the United States was a cliffhanger until the last moments, but in the end the results were conclusive. The democratic process prevailed and demonstrated once again the virtues of a government governed by the consent of the governed. This selection entailed the largest turn out of voters in thirty years; millions expressed their desire for the philosophy of one candidate or the other, and the popular vote was close, albeit decisive. This time the victory depended on the outcome in Ohio rather than in Florida, and on provisional ballots rather than chads, hanging or otherwise. As in any competitive contest, there was a winner and a loser with the winner celebrating victory and the loser reluctantly conceding defeat. It is popular to attribute victory to the hard work of volunteers, to the efforts of a political machine, to the superior oratory of a candidate, to the promises for a new beginning, to an appeal for financial gain or economic prosperity. For whatever motives, the people have spoken, the people have decided.
The story of Nebuchadnezzar gives us a different picture of how elections are won or lost. His experience is related by Daniel in chapters 2-4 that belies the conclusion that we are in control. Nebuchadnezzar was the all-powerful ruler of Babylon, and he was a very egotistical fellow. He had absolute life and death power over his subjects, and it went to his head, God gave him three chances to humble himself and to acknowledge that "behind the dim unknown, standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own" (Once to Every Man and Nation, James Russell Lowell, 1845). He was told that his golden kingdom would not last forever, but that it would be superseded by another inferior one represented by silver. He later defied this divine plan with an all golden image. Next, he defied God by throwing the three Hebrews into a fiery furnace from which they were miraculously delivered. Finally, because of his continued arrogance, Nebuchadnezzar became as an ox in the field. When after seven years he recovered his senses, he finally acknowledged that " the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Dan. 4:25).
Today we have somewhat the same ego problem; we engage in politics; we hold our elections; we vote, and we think that we have chosen our leaders. We need to realize that God is in control, and His plans will be fulfilled no matter what. Whoever is elected president will be God's man for the next four years. This involves the tension between the concepts of free choice and predestination. God does not vote , but He may influence the vote to fulfill a grand scheme or plan. We are to fulfill our civic duty and cast our vote and then leave the outcome to God. In politics and in all the affairs of life, we must remember that the outcome of our decisions is a result of "the Nebuchadnezzar factor."
