Can These Bones Live?

The Story

The prophet Ezekiel lived among God’s people in exile in Babylon. Jerusalem had fallen, the temple was destroyed, and the people had lost hope. “Our bones are dried,” they said, “and our hope is lost.”

One day the hand of the Lord carried Ezekiel in the Spirit to a valley full of bones. God led him all around it. There were very many of them, and they were very dry, scattered and bleached in the sun, long past any hope of life.

Then God asked him a question: “Son of man, can these bones live?”

Ezekiel didn’t say yes, and he didn’t say no. He said, “O Lord GOD, thou knowest.”

God told him to speak to the bones: “O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.” So Ezekiel spoke, and as he did, there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. Sinews and flesh came upon them, and skin covered them. But there was still no breath in them.

Then God told Ezekiel to speak to the wind, the breath, to come from the four winds and breathe into them. Ezekiel spoke, and breath came into them. They lived, and stood up on their feet, “an exceeding great army.”

God explained the vision: these bones are My people, who say their hope is lost. “I will put my spirit in you, and ye shall live.”

Reflection