Day 6 - Can These Dry Bones Live?

“Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.”

Ezekiel 37:7-8

Do you believe in resurrection power, that what’s dead in your life can be renewed?

When Yahweh takes Ezekiel to the valley of dry bones, he presents him with a desolate valley filled with death. A valley full of skeletons, representing all the dead things and broken things in the world. Then he asks him a question that shakes the young prophet to the core: Do you believe that what is dead in your life can once again live? Do you believe in resurrection power?

Ezekiel admits his weakness. There may have even been a bit of sarcasm in his voice when he replied, “You alone know God.” If Ezekiel is anything like us, he still can’t imagine this valley of death coming to life.

At that point, with a certainty that shakes Ezekiel to the core, Yahweh says to him, “Prophesy to these bones, speak to them saying, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Yahweh says to these bones: 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 Yahweh’” (Ezekiel 37:3–6 NIV).

When Ezekiel prophesies as commanded, a terrible noise begins to vibrate until there is an earth-shaking rattling sound, and the bones come together before his eyes…bone by bone. Ezekiel continues watching, and tendons and flesh appear on the bones. Next, amazingly, their bodies become covered in skin.

But there is a problem. Although bodies have formed in front of him, which is infinitely improved from the pile of dead bones, there is no breath in these bodies.

In Hebrew, any Israelite would understand some of the nuance in this story. Because in Hebrew, the word ruach (translated in English to breath), points to the divine power of God’s breath which is living and active because it's infused with God’s Spirit. The word ruach literally means both spirit and breath at the same time because the repetitive breath of a human being was automated since the first breath of Yahweh infilled the body and lungs of Adam.

When God breathed on the face of Adam in the garden of Eden, Adam's physical breathing only continued in its rhythmic automation because a spirit from God now lived inside of him. He was a living soul. In the valley of dry bones, Ezekiel learns to truly bear God’s image, when he is taught to prophesy to the bones, and command breath (ruach, spirit) to enter them. When breath enters their bodies, the dry bones come alive, and transform from a pile of skeletons into a vast army. Like Ezekiel, we are invited to command breath to enter the dead or dying things in our lives.

Take a pause to focus on your breathing right now. Your every breath, inhaling and exhaling, is because of that first breath of Yahweh into Adam. Consider the power of God’s breath.

Job 34:14 says, “If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust (emphasis added).

The vapor of God upholds the universe. The vapor of God upholds the lives of 8 billion people. And the billions that came before.

The Bible teaches us that every breath is upheld by the Spirit of God. Every person breathes about 25,000 breaths a day. All of humanity combined breathes160 trillion breaths every day. Every one of them is upheld by the spirit of God!

Yahweh is all powerful. Yahweh is the Lord Almighty.

Prayer: Thank You for your power and for upholding us with Your Spirit. Today I recognize that even the vapor of Your breath is strong enough to uphold the universe and that You are the life force keeping humanity alive. I want to live and breathe my way through life for You alone.