Last week we started to look at the vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. It is a thrilling passage and has so much in it for us to drink from.
I was drawn today to how the Lord taught Ezekiel to hear his heart and speak out the revelation God gave him.
Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord 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 Lord.” So I prophesied as I was commanded.’ Ezekiel 37:4-6
I am challenged at how God chose Ezekiel to declare his words of renewal and resurrection over the dry bones. It’s awesome that he wants us to be part of what he is doing. Do we acknowledge the trust he puts in us? Far more than any committees or charities we may form, all of which are important, the creator of this universe calls us to hear his heart for the nations and situations around us and speak out his word of life. His purpose in Ezekiel prophesying over the dry bones was that they ’know that I am the Lord.’ How beautiful that those dry bones, symbolising death, endings, hopelessness, sin, loss and despair would be so renewed that they themselves would know God as the Lord of life, love, joy, peace, forgiveness and glory?
I love how God led Ezekiel step by step into the deeper levels of prophecy. Firstly, taking him into the valley and opening his eyes to see the dry bones, and now directing him to prophesy his purposes while listening and looking with faith to see what was taking place. As I was prophesying there was a noise, a rattling sound and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked and tendons and flesh appeared, and skin covered them. But there was no breath in them.
Sometimes I want the full answer to my prayers or service to God to be revealed at once. If I reach out to someone, I long for there to be an immediate response, but God is always at work, even if we don’t see things straight away. Ezekiel heard a rattling sound first, then saw bones rolling towards one another, then life beginning to evolve – tendons,flesh, skin. Yet they were still lifeless. Ezekiel had to keep listening for the word of the Lord, speaking out only what he heard, when he heard it. His obedience and perseverance were at last wonderfully rewarded.
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them. They came to life and stood up on their feet, a vast army.
God wants to encourage you and me, don’t be afraid to step out and follow what he puts on your heart. God was showing Ezekiel through this living vision what he was going to bring about through the coming of Christ into the world. There is dryness, loss, death and brokenness all around us but as we learn to follow where God leads us, open our ears to his voice and speak out all that he shows us,there’s no knowing the immense transformational impact there will be, because every work and word of the Lord is given so that everyone knows that he is the Lord.
Prayer O Lord thank you that you trust us to partner with you in your awesome works of redemption and renewal. I long to be part of all you are doing Lord. Open my ears to hear your voice and touch my lips with your burning fire that I may speak out your words of life. Amen.
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