When We Know He is Lord

Ezekiel 37:1-14 recounts an encounter between Ezekiel and God that has always fascinated me.  Ezekiel finds himself in the midst of a valley surrounded by dry bones.  God asks, “Can these bones live?”  Ezekiel’s response has always given me a chuckle:  “Sovereign Lord, only You know the answer to that.”

In the ensuing scene, God demonstrates to Ezekiel in what must have been an HD-experiential object lesson that He can, in fact, breathe life into the dead.  Bones begin rattling.  Flesh appears.  Breath is infused.

This paints a fascinating scene that certainly carried weight for the house of Israel.  The imagery reaches far beyond into our 21^st century and into the deadness of our own lives.

What is it that you have reckoned dead?  A relationship?  Your spiritual life?  What seems so far gone to you that it could never be resurrected?  What dream has dried up and you’ve long since given up hope?

I’d like to suggest those are the very matters of our lives that God longs to bring to life.  Romans 4:17 declares Him to be “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were,” (NIV).

In two weeks we will remember the sacrifice that our Lord Jesus Christ made on our behalf, and we’ll celebrate the historical reality that He was raised to life again after having experienced death.  That resurrection brings the promise of much more to come (1 Cor 15). 

As for today, have we even looked to God to bring those dead back to life?  Can they be resurrected?  God only knows.  But He desires for us to invite Him into those situations and watch as He revives and breathes life where none existed before.  He can rekindle a love we believed was gone.  God can restore relationships we wrote off long ago.

Why?  The reason remains the same as it was in Ezekiel’s day.  “Then you will know that I am the Lord.”  I have spoken.  I will do it.

God is good.  God is loving.  God is trustworthy.  Even when I’m surveying a valley of dry bones, these are true.  I need eyes of faith to see.  I need patience to wait as I seek Him.  Resurrection is coming.