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The Valley of Dry Bones

© Virginia Marin

In Ezekiel chapter 37, God transports the prophet Ezekiel to the Valley of Dry Bones, and here relates to him the following parable. Remember, all Scripture at this site is taken literally.

In an interesting article by Timothy Stevenson, "Shechem, the Valley of Decision" for Messianic Home Magazine, he states, "I believe Yahshua was pointing his followers to the prophecy of Ezekiel chapter 37." What is this prophecy in Ezekiel 37 that we hear so much about today?

"The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones" (Ezekiel 37:1).

This is not the first time Ezekiel had been air born. Before Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, Ezekiel experienced a miracle flight to that city (see chapter 8). It is not unbelievable that the Spirit of the Lord carried him. There is no reason to believe that God cannot do something which is commensurate with whom He is; therefore, the belief taken here is that God literally moved Ezekiel from point A to point B.

"And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many bones in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry" (Ezekiel 37:2).

What Ezekiel saw in this desert valley was worse than what one could expect to see in California's Death Valley. Ezekiel's eyes fell upon an unimaginable sight of dried and scattered human bones. What a doleful sight this must have been to the prophet.

"And he said unto me, son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest" (Ezekiel 37:3).

God had asked Ezekiel if he thought the bones could once again come to life and live. Since Ezekiel did not know, he told God that only He had the answer to His question.

God told His servant to prophesy upon the bones, and tell them to hear the Word of the Lord. Wow! Poor Ezekiel. What he must have thought at that moment. Ezekiel appears to have been utterly helpless, but it only seems so. There is even indication that he may have lost his speech. So, God commanded the prophet to speak to the bones: "Behold I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 37:4-6).

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