Daily Devotional

“Therefore, the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven” (Daniel 8:8). 

The world’s largest animal horn circumference goes to Lurch, an African Watusi steer owned by Janice Wolf of Gassville, Arkansas. Lurch’s humongous horns measured 37.5 inches around and spanned seven-and-a-half feet from tip to tip. This world record holder lived for fourteen years and died in 2010. The record for the longest spread goes to an Asian water buffalo, shot in 1955, with horns measuring 13 feet, 10 inches from tip to tip. 

One of the most beautiful large-horned animals on the planet is the Capra ibex. This wild goat found in the Near East and Mediterranean region is very nimble and can jump six feet straight up in the air without a running start. Their long backward-curving horns, which gracefully reach over their backs, are used for fighting during mating season. Male horns can reach about five feet in length. 

The prophet Daniel was given a vision of a strong male goat with “a no- table horn between his eyes” (Daniel 8:5). It “came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground.” We know from further study that this power represented Alexander the Great and his Macedonian Empire. In an incredibly short period of time, this young general conquered the Medo-Persian Empire and by the age of thirty created one of the largest empires in the ancient world. 

While we don’t know what type of goat Daniel saw in vision (perhaps the ibex), the single horn of this strong beast symbolized strength. History tells us that Alexander was undefeated and was considered the most successful of all military commanders. But like all other world kingdoms, “the large horn was broken” (verse 8) and his empire came to an end. 

Only one Commander, one army, and one kingdom will last for eternity. Jesus taught us to pray to the heavenly Father: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” (Matthew 6:13). Now that’s a record that will never be broken! 

O Lord, You are the horn of my salvation and Your kingdom will never be destroyed.