You've no doubt heard the expression "the writing's on the wall." People frequently use it to describe instances in which someone is ignoring the obvious. Coincidentally, the origin of the phrase can be attributed to a hardened, arrogant king who refused to acknowledge God—even though the evidence was all around him.
The fifth chapter of the book of Daniel introduces us to King Belshazzar, a co-regent to the throne of Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. "King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them" (Daniel 5:1). Now to be fair, this verse puts things rather lightly.
Belshazzar's banquet was a raucous, licentious, drunken party, thrown haughtily in the face of an impending invasion by the Medio-Persian army. His response was one of over-confidence in his own might and the strength of Babylon's defenses. Why worry when your fortifications are nearly impenetrable?
Archaeologists estimate the outer wall of Babylon was 17 miles long, 22 feet thick and 90 feet high. Its watchtowers were 100 feet high, and the city gates were made of bronze. The system of inner and outer walls, as well as moats, made the city very secure. But the Bible warns us, "...if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Cor. 10:12)
In today’s culture we are experts at insulating ourselves, just as Belshazzar did, with things that make us feel more secure. Money. Knowledge. Strength or skill. Friends, alcohol, drugs and sex, to name a few. Our response to physical suffering or emotional distress is to shove it aside, to forget about it and go on pursuing “whatever makes us happy.”
In the midst of this feel-good affair, Belshazzar decided to go one step further by mocking God outright. He ordered the gold and silver goblets taken from the temple during the siege of Jerusalem to be brought in so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines might drink from them (Dan. 5:2–3). “As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone” (Dan. 5:4).
Ignoring God is easy when everything is going great, but it eventually catches up with us all.
“Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way” (Dan. 5:5–6). Underneath his contemptuous front, Belshazzar’s conscience testified against him.
The same is true for us today, believers and unbelievers alike. God tells us, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jer. 31:33). The light of God makes legible the moral code written on the heart of every human being alive. And we are all responsible to honor God according to the revelation He has given us.
But, like Nebuchadnezzar before him, Belshazzar failed to honor the revelation from God. After summoning all the wise men of Babylon to no avail, Daniel is once again called upon for his insight, intelligence and wisdom. His pronouncement is dire: Belshazzar’s days are numbered; God has weighed his life and found it lacking in spiritual and moral value; his reign is coming to an end. (Dan. 5:7–28)
The writing on the wall was a final warning before God’s judgment. “That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom…” (Dan. 5:30–31). The lesson from Belshazzar’s story is simple: eventually, ignoring God catches up with you.
If God considered Belshazzar’s ignorance inexcusable in view of the ray of light provided to him, how much more are we held accountable considering the brilliant blaze of glory revealed to us in Christ and His Word? Not only that, but God has made Himself evident through the order and magnificence of Creation!
Romans 1:19–20 says, “…what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (emphasis mine). The Psalmist also testifies to this saying, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Ps. 19:1).
Is God trying to get your attention today? Maybe you’ve been on the fence lately in regards to Christianity—you’re not sure what you believe, but for some reason when you hear about Jesus something stirs in your heart.
Perhaps you do believe in God, but maybe He’s been putting His finger on an area in your life that needs to change…an area you’ve possibly been ignoring. This particular issue keeps coming up in conversation, in Scripture, in church. You just can't seem to get away from it.
The Bible exhorts us, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 3:15). A continual disregard for God will ultimately lead to futile thinking and a darkened heart (Rom. 1:21). Let us not ignore the obvious, but respond in obedience to His voice when we hear Him calling! “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow me” (Jn. 10:27).
God, help me recognize and respond to Your voice today. Keep me from insulating myself from issues I don’t want to deal with; help me trust that You will lead me through them in love as I heed Your Voice. Grow me in faith by giving me a firm foundation in Your Word, and confidence in what I know is true—You are the God of all Creation, and the Lord of my life! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection Questions
- Is there an issue God has been prompting you to address lately? Has your response been insulation rather than recognition?
- Identify the ways you insulate yourself. The next time you are tempted to turn to any of these things, pray and ask God for the courage to confront the real issue at hand.
- Today, we hear God’s voice through His Word. Are you familiar with how God speaks to your heart? What are some of the ways He gets your attention?