The background verse comes from Ezekiel 37:1-14. Ezekiel, was a prophet of God and had just witnessed the demise of Israel as a Nation and captured by Babylonians. Yet, this verse speaks of some very critical biblical truths that apply to us just the same today.
In many times of our lives we often feel defeated, feel unworthy, feel incapable of ourselves. And too, periods of spiritual darkness follows as sin seeks to entangle us. While it is normal to feel down and sometimes to the point that we are lukewarm and lethargic in faith, God shows Ezekiel (and us too) just what He sees of us:
We are like Dry bones:
Well.Death itself proves to be an unpopular topic of discussion, especially so across cultures and borders, because its associated with badness. We may be a non-christian suffering from addictions/hurts or devoted christians struggling with issues that somehow keep a stronghold over us. Some say a leopard never changes its spots, much is the same for our sinful nature. There is something in us that somehow can jeopardise the life we ought to be living for and sap the joy in us.
Sometimes we feel like dry bones = lifeless. worthless. And of no use to anyone.
Wha God can do to dry Bones:
As I read through the verses, I see a promise of God:
11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”
It is perhaps interesting to think what God has done in my life thus far, even if I'm now struggling with deep issues at the moment. Fact has stacked the odds against our Lord: He chose His 12 disciples from fishermen, tax collector and made it into his Church today. God chose Moses and turned his life around. God chose Saul, a Pharisee famous for persecuting christians and turned him into perhaps the most important apostle Paul, who led many to Christ.
All these people succeeded not because of who they were, and what they were capable of, but because of the Spirit that dwelled in them. Such was a plan that could not fail.
Today, we may think we are like dry bones, and that hope is gone. Yet the limitations of ourselves is the start of where God can work. And he has already shown His intent by choosing to come in Jesus, to put His Spirit in us to work in us. It is an invitation that I myself have taken up for 5 years, ups and downs, rollercoaster of a ride it has been.
He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel 37:3
For me it's a reminder that I would miss the whole purpose of life if I still miss the source of where, or rather whom all life came from. Bones alone cannot sustain life. Only the One who made them can.
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