Daily Reflections on Ezek. 37:1-14 (I Thought It Was Dead)

As a kid with a big imagination, I loved the story of the valley of dry bones found in Ezekiel 37. I could picture this valley covered with dry bones everywhere. An arm here. A leg there. A disconnected hand. Then all of the sudden, the bones begin to rattle as the bump together in an attempt to find their missing counter parts. Before long skeleltons would be forming, some looking for a leg or an arm. Others would be looking for their head like C3P0 in episode 2 of "Stars Wars." Dogs would be chasing the dancing bones, while half formed skeletons would be trying to get away. (I said I had a big imagination.) The next thing you know these separated dry bones were coming to life again.

Normally, I was not into horror movies or skeletons. Even scenes from "Pirates of the Carribean" kind of freak me out. But for some reason, this story fascinated me and still does to this day. Modern day special effects artists would do wonders depicting this scene.

Although I think Ezekiel tends to be one of those books left to those into prophesy and end times, I think that there's a much deeper meaning to this odd story than meets the eye. It really captures the theme of the entire Bible in these few short verses. There's nothing deader in our minds than a bunch of old dry bones. No chance for life. Yet, God speaks to these dead, dry bones through Ezekiel and they begin to come to life.

That's the whole message of the Bible. Things that where dead by our standards can be revived by the power of God. It is certainly true of our spiritual life and our relationship with God. He can take the deadest of lives and revive them. And if that's true about our spiritual life, what about other areas of our life? If God can raise the dead spiritually and physically, what about a dead marriage or a dead career or dead finances or a dead relationship? If all God did was to tell Ezekiel to prophesy or deliver His message to a bunch of dry bones and they came to life, why can't He do that to these other areas of life?

What seems dead in your life right now? What seems hopeless? Maybe all it needs is God's breath blown into it or God's word spoken into it to be revived. Remember God spoke creation into existence. He has the power to give life. How about putting it into God's hand?

God, you are totally amazing. You speak and life happens. You blow your breath and things come to life. Speak into my life. Blow your breath upon me. Revive the dead areas of my life. Renew me.