Tag: God’s greatness and holiness
Speak to Dry Bones!
Scripture reading for August 28th: Ezekiel 37-39
Ezekiel’s prophesies contain a phrase used many times: “Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:23b) God wants all nations to know Him, for all peoples are made in His image and likeness. Sin has caused all people of every nation to forget God and become darkened in their understanding of God. But God is sovereign over all nations and has promised to use Israel to reveal His power and love to all other nations.
God took Ezekiel in the Spirit to the middle of a valley full of dry bones. He asked Ezekiel if he thought that the dry bones could live. Ezekiel responded that only God knew about that. God then told him to prophesy to the bones and tell them to hear God’s word: “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 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 the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4-6) Ezekiel obeyed God, and as he began to speak to them, a great noise brought the dry bones together and flesh appeared on them.
God next told him to speak to the winds to blow on the bones. As Ezekiel spoke, breath entered the bodies and they stood up, a mighty army. God told Ezekiel that these represented Israel and that God would bring them hope and restoration through faith in His prophetic word. The wind represented God’s Spirit and power that would bring it to pass. The restoration of Israel to the land would help Israel and all nations to know that God was the Lord of heaven and earth! (Ezekiel 37:11-14)
As we look back across history, we see that God was true to His word and did resurrect Israel by His power. He resurrected them from the valley of dry bones and brought them back to Israel. He brought a son of David, Jesus Christ, out of Israel who brought the true knowledge of God. God raised Him from death, according to His word! His plan has always been that through His mighty power through resurrection from death He would proclaim His greatness to the whole world! Let’s make His greatness known by speaking to dry bones!