When Dry Bones Came to Life

The story of the dry bones mentioned in Ezekiel chapter 37, has been interpreted as the re-gathering of the Jews from many nations back to the land of Israel, this event happened in our time, when Israel was established as a nation in 1948. An interesting fact is that one of the first places that was excavated shortly after Israel received it’s sovereignty was the site called Masada, the last Jewish stronghold against Rome.

The archaeologists that excavated Masada knew all about it, based on the writings of Jewish historian, Josephus Flavius. They came upon a synagogue on the mountain fortress, and there they found only one preserved portion of scripture, Ezekiel 37. When they uncovered this find, the discoverers wept, realizing that they themselves were these “dry bones that came to life.” At a time in which this prophecy was being fulfilled, this portion of scripture was preserved in a place where hope was once lost! .1

Some believe that Israel will not be allowed to fully return to the land of Israel to possess it as an eternal possession until Israel has accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. The valley of the dry bones can also be interpreted as the spiritual rebirth of Israel, a symbolic representation of Israel’s spiritual state with God. Israel’s condition is no different from that of any person who is not born again. Before the new birth, we are all spiritually dead in our souls. It is described as being dead in trespasses and sins.

The Valley of the Dry Bones -Wallpaper by loswl

The Dry Bones Live

The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.” - Ezekiel 37:1-14

In the story of the valley of dry bones, it is said that the bones were very dry, this is to help us see just how spiritually dead Israel was in this prophecy. If we apply the prophecy to born again Christians, we can have a more personal connection with it. We too were dry bones, dead in our sins. With the grace of God we have the new life; this new life will be fully manifested when Christ returns. We will not be able to boast about how good we were or declare how deserving we are to enter into glory, it is only the sacrificial blood of Jesus and His grace that will be accepted. The challenge for us is to go out and prophecy to the dry bones of the world and tell them about the source of new life, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God.

Credits:
.1 Dry Bones Come to Life
.2 Wallpaper created from a number of stock images from Shutterstock and Stock.xchng.