I was studying the book of Daniel these days and I found a passage that caught my attention.
The main image of this message was the intensity of God’s light touch. That sounds a bit contradictory, right? But I will explain.
The incessant search
In Daniel 10:10 the prophet says: “A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees“
This verse refers to the touch that Daniel received from the messenger who was sent by God.
The phrase “a hand touched me” makes us think of something serene. But the meaning is much greater! God’s touch on him, through the messenger, was so intense, so powerful, that it made Daniel, trembling, kneel down and lean on his hands. The extraordinary vision that Daniel had received before that touch had already made the other men hide, while he remained without strength, almost fainting, with his face on the ground (verse 8 and 9).
Do not misunderstand me. God is a sweet and loving Father, but His touch is powerful. As smooth as it sounds, it’s brash and leaves nothing standing. Daniel says in verse 8 that there was no strength left in him.
But will I fill that touch?
God had given Daniel a vision, and he was the only one who had access to it at that time.
“Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak.” – Daniel 10:7-8
The Lord needed a voice to get his message across and Daniel, a man of prayer and faith, who already sought and worshiped Him day and night, was chosen for that. The messenger stated in verse 12: “Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.“
Daniel cried out for discernment and humbled himself in the presence of the Lord. The messenger who touched him was his answer to prayer. In the same way, if we cry out and seek, we too can experience God’s mighty touch.
This can scare
As we read, in verse 7, Daniel says: “…but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide…”
People close to him were afraid because they didn’t understand what that was. When God enters our being, He first empties us of ourselves to fit more and more of Him. Daniel needed to lose his strength, his senses and almost faint (Dan. 10.8-9) so that he had access to the touch and powerful message of the Lord.
Daniel was already looking for a true overflow of his soul in the Lord. So he stayed and trusted what God was about to do. That touch was familiar to him. He already knew that voice.
To conclude…
Have you been preparing yourself for God to fill your being more and more? Understand the need to pray and seek so that it does not frighten you. His strong and light touch wants to find you every day, and even if He empties you of your own strength, His strength will take care of you.
