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Daniel 2:41 "And as you saw the feet and toes partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the miry clay."

 

Daniel is interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream of an image of a great figure made, in descending order, of gold, silver, bronze, and iron with feet partly of iron and partly of clay. Daniel says the feet, being of clay and iron, indicate that the last of the kingdoms to succeed Nebuchadnezzar's will be a kingdom divided, partly strong and partly brittle. These two aspects will be joined in marriage, but really will be incompatible, and in those days God will set up his everlasting kingdom (Daniel 2:41-44). 

 

That everlasting Kingdom has both arrived and is being awaited. It arrived in the person of Jesus, whose "sovereignty [will never] be left to another people." (Daniel 2:44). Jesus is the "stone [that] was cut from a mountain by no human hand ... [that] broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold." (Daniel 2:45) He established His kingdom over 2,000 years ago, but the breaking of the worldly kingdoms is still ongoing. 

 

God's plan is to bring all people into His kingdom. The ones who are in already are to bring in the ones who are not. It is a long process, requiring love, patience, and often suffering as we live through the various kingdoms and leaders who are not yet ready to cede their power (and are often trying to keep the marriage of iron and clay together at any cost). It can seem like things should be happening faster; we can become impatient or frustrated at times. But we proceed with the sure knowledge that this His kingdom will be established and will last forever. "The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." (Daniel 2:45).