Son of man, can these bones live?

“And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord,” (Ezekiel 37:3,5,6).

The Prophet Ezekiel was used by God in some dramatic ways. Firstly, he was lying on his side for 390 days during which he could only eat one eight – quence meal a day cooked over manure. Secondly, he was shaving his head and beard and thirdly, he showed no sorrow, when his wife died. He was a “street preacher” for 22 years and through him, God was powerfully preached to His people Israel. The content of the message though rhetoric was “son of man can these bones live.”

Admittedly, the message was frightening, as embedded in it was death. But gradually, the message came alive. Israel was in captivity in Babylon. As a result of this, she was physically and spiritually dead. Therefore, she needed a strong message to wake her up and to give her hope of God’s restoration. It is true that as captives they were in trouble, separated from home and in a manner of speaking dead with no hope of return.

However, a peep into God’s relationship with Israel showed Him as having pity and concern over it. It was God, Who with a powerful hand, delivered her from the Egyptian slavery and bore her on His Eagle wings. It was the same God, Who settled her in the Promised Land, even though at the time, there were people living. So, Ezekiel’s picture of the dry bones in the valley depicted Israel’s physical and spiritual state, but was not out of reach by God.

Indeed, God’s word is powerful bringing hope and restoration at the same time. He assuredly says: “the bones will live and all the people will know that He is the Lord.” Therefore, whether a Church or marriage or business or economy is dead, God can still turn things around for good in a twinkle of an eye. After all, He is in charge and involved in the affairs of men, no matter how hopeless a situation may be.

Unfortunately, some people do not see God intervening in some situations, partly because of unbelief, as well as hopelessness. But this should not be so, for certainly dry bones with God will live again. For us as a people in Nigeria, there is need to believe God and trust in His Word. We should not be carried away by the present economic situation in the country or the saturated labour market or drowning educational sector and power challenges we are experiencing, among others. The truth of the matter still remains that dry bones will live again. This is the time for us to put our faith to work. God will do it and certainly, there will be a turnaround for good. We must deal with unbelief, hopelessness and believe God. depend on the story in 2 Kings 7:1-2, 17-20.

“Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘tomorrow about this time, a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” So, an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it” “Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. So, it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying,
“Two seahs of barley for a shekel and a seah of fine flour for a shekel shall be sold tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria.” Then that officer had answered the man of God and said, “Now look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes but you shall not eat of it.” And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.”

Child of God, do not allow unbelief to ruin your life. Believe in God’s prophet and in His word, too, (2 Chron. 20:20). Therefore, it is my earnest prayer that today; every dry bone in your life, family or business shall receive life in Jesus name! Amen.

Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre,
Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org