Six hundred years before Christ would make His providential appearance, a righteous man finds himself in captivity. While exiled, Ezekiel was able to witness the spirit of God in a very intimate way. Even so, he was still living under the thumb of the Babylonians just like every other Israelite with him. Even while living in these unideal circumstances he is privileged to see awe inspiring visions from God.
After years spent with no success or response from his people, Ezekiel has become frustrated with the fact that Israel won’t listen to him or Him. He’s lost hope in their ability to change— they’re just too far gone. Chapter nineteen is one long lament as Ezekiel cries over his hard-hearted Israelite brothers. Why won’t they listen to him? Even after Ezekiel performs some radical visual illustrations like eating his bread over dung and laying on his side for an entire year, they won’t respond to the “invitation.” God never abandons His faithful servant but His confused prophet is still left to wonder what God is going to do about the mess which makes up his reality. A familiar feeling for Christians to this day.
At this low point Ezekiel is then taken even lower. God takes him to the bottom of a valley where piled on its floor is— death. Heaps of dry human bones; not belonging to strangers but of fellow Israelites. He may have wondered why God decided to bring him to such a terrible place. Maybe his view of God was an embittered one and so he wasn’t that surprised. After all, God allowed him to endure misery from the beginning of his prophetic ministry. He faced more hardship than even the godless captives that he was called to preach to. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been too out of character, in Ezekiel’s mind, for God to now bring him into a valley of bones.
God asks His servant a question, “Can these dry bones live again?” Ezekiel’s response isn’t one of confidence and certainty but rather a safe, “O Lord, only you know.”
The God of Resurrection doesn’t bring the vast pile of Israelite bones to life in the blink of an eye— though we know He could have. Instead, He allows Ezekiel to hear the bones, flesh, and sinews as they rattled (literally, rumbled) together (37.7). He wanted the “Son of man” to see and hear His hand at work in a way that was and is— unforgettable. God’s desire was to leave a lasting impression on Ezekiel and to demonstrate the might of the Almighty. Ezekiel didn’t know how God brought the bones to life, but he knew God did it. You may not understand why God has allowed you to enter your valley, but you can be certain that He has the power to see you through it.
The Preacher Pollard Blog 