From Dry Bones to Life

Ezekiel 37: 4-5 “Then 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: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”

There is story in the Bible about dry old bones in a valley that come to life through the spirit of God. It might bring up images of dancing skeletons or a scene from a horror movie, but the metaphor used by the ancient writer was meant to give the reader hope in desperate times. God’s Spirit was, and is, always a source of life.

Many of us have experienced our own “valley of dry bones”, especially in the past two years. The isolation, illness, loss of income, and total change of routine because of the pandemic, may have left us feeling hopeless and discouraged. However, even when we might feel like that pile of dry bones, God’s Spirit never falters. For in the most difficult circumstances, we are assured that through Jesus, death was overcome, and through the Holy Spirit, we can know new and hopeful life. Thanks be to God.