God Breathes Life into Souls: Ezekiel 37:1-10

At first, Ezekiel 37:1-10 seems like a very confusing passage in the Bible. In these verses, God raises up an army out of a valley full of dead, dry bones. Many people know Ezekiel as a book of prophecy; is God trying to tell us that he's going to raise up a skeletal army in the last days? Probably not. One application of this passage is that God can breathe life into dry, lifeless souls.

God Calls Ezekiel

One of the first things that we can notice in this passage is that God called Ezekiel out into the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-2). It wasn't Ezekiel's choice to go to this valley; it was God's. In the same way, we are called to do something for God. While we probably won't be asked to go to a valley of literal bones, we may very well be called to reach the dead, dying souls around us. There are many people out there who may be physically alive, but do not have souls that are born again through God's forgiveness. In fact, Acts 1:8 tells us that we are to be witnesses in our community and everywhere else on the earth. This would include places that are spiritually dry.

Who Can Live?

As Ezekiel looked over the valley of dry bones, the Lord asked him if the bones can come to life. Knowing that God can do anything, Ezekiel's reply was "O Lord God, thou knowest" (v. 3). He was then told to prophesy to the bones, and that God would make them live again (vv. 4-5). We may think that someone has gone so deep into sin that there is no possible way that they would ever turn their lives over to Jesus, but God can do anything. They have to be reached first. Lamentations 3:51 says that our eye can affect our heart. When we look at pictures of starving children in Africa, doesn't that move us to want to give to them? In the same way, if we look at the people around us as people who God made and Jesus died for, it may move us to tell them about the Lord, even if it looks like there is no way of reviving their souls.

Ezekiel Obeyed; God Gave Life

Ezekiel was able to see a miracle in his vision because he obeyed the Lord. When God told him to prophesy to the bones, Ezekiel didn't argue; he just did it. When Ezekiel obeyed, God caused a miracle. In verses 9 and 10, God caused breath to come into the bones, and he gave the dry bones life. In the same manner, when we obey the Lord, we can see miracles as well. We do the obeying, God is the one that will give life. We can see God give new spiritual life to individuals even when it seems like the people we are talking to seem to have hardened hearts.

The Vision Explained

Verses 11 through 14 of Ezekiel 37 state that this passage is specifically referring to the nation of Israel. The Israelites were in captivity at the time, and God did take the nation out of captivity and revive them. Although it does refer to Israel, it can also refer to the spirit of people in general. God can perform miracles. We can't tell by looking at someone whether they will choose to repent or not. God is the One who gives spiritual life. If we want to see miracles in our life, we need to obey him.

Source: Inspired by a sermon by Keith from Seedline Ministries, given at Gospel Light Church in Mesa, Arizona, 30 January 2011.