DAY 5: Can these bones live?

In thinking about hope, and what God is calling me to, I often return to Ezekiel 37: the valley of dry bones. God leads Ezekiel back and forth in a valley full of bones, making sure he has a good look at them. Then he asks him, ‘Can these bones live?’

Bones are the remnants of something long dead; they embody and symbolise death. Additionally, God should know the answer to this seemingly impossible question. So why does he ask Ezekiel? God knows the answer, but I think that he cares what Ezekiel thinks. It matters what Ezekiel thinks about this issue because God wants to give Ezekiel a role in bringing restoration and renewal in this place of death. Instead of being a neutral observer or an interested onlooker, Ezekiel has the opportunity to be an active participant. But he’s unlikely to participate if he has no hope for these bones!

And sure enough, Ezekiel partners with God to speak life to the bones, and they come together and stand up on their feet, forming a vast army.

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-10 (NIV)

The Valley of Dry Bones

1 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of theLord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am theLord.’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

Reflection question:

Can these bones live? Is God leading you to a particular valley, and asking you if something just might be possible there? Talk to a friend about this.