This chapter contains a prophetic vision of God bringing dry bones to life, plus another prophesy of Israel’s restoration which includes Jesus’ future reign over them.
“…he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ And I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’… So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them… and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” (v1, 3, 7-8, 10 abr)
It’s very likely God reviving these bones was a vision. Regardless, there are key points to consider here:
– these bones were disgraced because ancient people had strict burial customs / laws
– these bones had no hope of living again, they were not only dead, but long-dead (dry)
– God is all-powerful and all-knowing with the ability to do anything He wishes, including what we consider to be ‘impossible’
– God desires to restore us, sometimes physically, but always spiritually, breathing new life into our beings which sin destroyed
Perhaps the most critical part of the text is Ezekiel’s response: “O Lord God, You know.” Ezekiel didn’t have any faith in the bones, nor did he presume to know what God was planning. His correct response to God’s question is to faithfully suggest ‘only God knows what only God knows, and only God can do what only God can do’ (ie. ‘You’re God, and I’m not’). He then chose to obey God, despite the seeming absurdity of His commands.
Have we ever balked at God’s power or His seemingly impossible request(s)? I have. We can quickly forget that God, Creator of the Universe, is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. Let’s praise our Lord who has the power and wisdom to restore and heal us.
Father God, our Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent King, we praise Your holy and righteous name. Thank you for reviving and redeeming our parched bones that sin destroyed. Thank you Jesus for being our Living Water and Bread of Life. Spirit please help us to live vibrant lives that reflect the glory of God. Father, we seek to honor, praise, and faithfully obey You. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training