No.
Why not?
They’re bones.
They’re death. They’re beyond
dead. They’re only remnants of what
was…what will never be again.
God seemed to ponder this for a moment.
Am I not God?
I paused.
…you are God.
You hesitate. Why?
Because even though You are God, these are still
just bones.
Just bones? Did I not
form the very bones that your flesh, which was also formed by My hand, encloses now?
You did.
But the Creator of your bones—and all bones—cannot make these
bones arise?
Maybe you can. But
will you?
Why would I will for those who cannot believe I can?
Doubting Thomas was given proof…
God laughs. Doubting Thomas was
brought face to face with Jesus. Is that
what you want?
I laugh a little, too.
Not just yet.
I do not always speak and I do not always do—especially if
there is no will or want in you. Do you notice
in Ezekiel, I am telling Ezekiel what to will to the bones? And he speaks, knowing, because he has heard
my voice telling him to speak. You have
cut your heart from me, and instead of looking for Me, you stare at these dry
bones. For what? Already they do not move, they do not
stir. This much you know. Is it more comfortable to look upon dry bones
than it is to come with me, to meet with me, so that instead of you staring
into nothing, we can talk about bones?
You don’t care about my want, for my wishes of bones to
be more than just bones…
Why should I let you believe in bones when you don’t believe
in Me? So that when they dance you can
look to them as if they’ve done something magical? As if these bones could love you more than
me. What a fool would I be if I gave a
spoiled daughter fruit without her nurturing and loving the very tree that gave
her such fruit. And God is no fool.
He pauses this time, thoughtfully.
You say your bones are dry, your hope is lost, and you have
been cut off… Say to yourself, thus says
the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O
my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know
that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O
my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will
place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have
spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.
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. And 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 on them and skin covered them, but
there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of
man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from
the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I
prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and
stood up on their feet—a vast army.
__________________________________________________________________
I could not love the book of Ezekiel more than I do now.
I beg God to renew my heart.
I have stories
left to tell
They're of the
healing kind
—Northern Wind, City and Colour
