Bringing Bones to Life

Introduction

A. Some things are impossible. It is impossible to be in two places at one time. It is impossible to fly. It is impossible to love fully. It is impossible to live perfectly. And it is impossible to restore breath to one who has died. Although some things are impossible, many possibilities exist today because people refused to accept the impossible.

1. We have the modern car engine because Henry Ford believed something was possible.

2. We fly on an airplane because some believed it was possible

3. So much of our technology exists because someone dared to see what was possible from those who said it was impossible.

B. The impossibilities of this earth pale when we see the possibilities in our relationship with God. While it is impossible for us to love fully, God allows us to love more fully than we ever thought possible. While we cannot live perfectly, through Jesus we are counted as blameless in the eyes of God. What is impossible to us, is possible with God. We will see the impossible become possible in Ezekiel 37 today.

The Text

A. There are a number of strange situations in Ezekiel. From lying on his left and right sides for specified times to not publicly mourning the death of his wife, Ezekiel has been called on to do a number of things which would have challenged him and his faith. But as God’s servant, he was interested in doing God’s will rather than his own comfort. Such is the case in chapter 37.

B. God takes Ezekiel to a valley that is filled with bones. As verse 2 tells us, these bones are very dry. They have been left to bake in the sun. They are completely devoid of moisture. They are lifeless. And the question is posed “Ezekiel, can these bones live?” Impossible for lifeless bones to live again. How can one infuse marrow into bones dried and baked by the hot desert sun? But to Ezekiel’s credit, his response highlights his faith. “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

C. What seems impossible to us is possible for God. Ezekiel has already seen visions which are indescribable. He has seen God’s power at work. Only God can make dry, decaying bones live again. So Ezekiel acknowledges that God is in control of these bones. But God calls on Ezekiel to do the unexplainable. Ezekiel is told to prophesy to these bones. We must skim over God’s desire. How does one prophesy to something that is dead? If I were to have a tombstone as my pulpit and graves as my audience, we all may think that I had lost touch with reality. But prophesy is what Ezekiel does. And as he speaks, the bones begin to move and to form skeletons.

D. Still no life but there is activity. Then God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath. This wind is to come and fill the bones with life. It is reminiscent of Genesis 2 in which God makes man but man doesn’t come alive until God breathes into man. Then in verses 11–14, God gives us an explanation about what is happening. Israel is like the lifeless, dead bones. They have been slain and left to rot in the baking sun. But God is going to bring life to Israel once again and the experience ends.

So What?

A. Two brief lessons. First, that which seems impossible to us is possible with God. Israel felt hopeless. The temple was destroyed; Jerusalem lay in ruins; thousands exiled; life no longer existed in the way that it once had. Defeat breeds hopelessness. When have you been defeated? When have you felt hopeless?

1. Was it when a loved one died?

2. Was it when financial ruin was at your doorstep?

3. Was it when your children denied your values and went their own way?

4. Was it when your spouse left you?

5. Whenever life as you knew stopped existing, you might have felt hopeless.

B. Can these bones live again? Is it possible for life to come to that which is lifeless? God answers a resounding “yes.” Life comes when God acts. When you are spiritually dead, God breathes life. When you are physically lifeless, God brings strength. When you are emotionally exhausted, God brings refreshment. God is the giver of life—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Without his breath there is no life and without his Spirit there is no power. God brings life.

C. Second, we bring hope to the hopeless. As I studied this section, it was odd that Ezekiel was told to preach to dead, dry bones. Did God need Ezekiel to preach before he could act? Obviously not. What’s the point? Let me suggest that this was as much for Ezekiel as it was for the restoration of Israel. Ezekiel needed to be reconfirmed in his faith that God was indeed Sovereign. Let me try to apply this to us.

1. We go through our work day or through school each day surrounded by those who are lifeless and perhaps hopeless. They are looking for hope on the weekends. They are looking for hope in relationships which tantalize but rarely bring lasting fulfillment. And we stand on the sidelines watching knowing that they are lifeless but lacking courage to speak the words that they need to hear.

2. God doesn’t need us to speak to bring life, but he has chosen to use us so that real life can be clearly seen. Ezekiel had a message that would bring life, but until he spoke the bones remained lifeless. And until we speak those that work with and go to school with will remain lifeless. Will we speak? Invitation.

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