Then [God] said to me, “Prophecy to the 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. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4-6)
Did Ezekiel have to have confidence in what he said in order for the prophesy to have impact? Did Ezekiel have to know the bones could live? Did he have to have confidence that God would do what God could do?
I tend to think that Ezekiel’s vision has to do with the community–and it probably does. But I wonder if he could have been seeing a metaphor for his own life as well. I wonder if HE ever felt like that valley of dry bones.
God brought him to a space and invited to look at those dry bones. He didn’t know if they could be different than how they looked at that moment. Then God said, “Prophecy to these bones.” Prophecy to them. Proclaim a different future. Call them back to who they know themselves to be. Call them forward beyond what they’ve become. Can these bones live? Lord, you know. Prophecy to them.
Did Ezekiel have to have confidence in what he said in order for the prophesy to have impact? Did Ezekiel have to know the bones could live? Did he have to have confidence that God would do what God could do?
God tells Ezekiel to prophecy and in that proclamation is a declaration of God’s breath: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
- That breath that spoke creation into being and called it good.
- That breath that passed into humanity and embodied relationship.
- That breath that flowed from Elijah into the body of a child and brought life back.
- That breath that spoke “do not fear” to Mary & the shepherds and “beloved son” to Jesus.
- That breath that sighed out of Jesus in love and pain and agony and anticipation.
- That breath that blew over the Pentecost crowd with a vision and a mission.
I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
God’s breath…that flows in and through me as a minister of Word and Service?
God’s breath…that sobs out grief and fear and loneliness and hope?
Can these bones live? Lord, you know.
I am the bones.
I will cause breath…THAT BREATH…to enter you, and you shall live.
Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash