Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Of all the prophets, Ezekiel was called on by God to perform more unusual acts in connection with his message than any other. God directed Ezekiel to a valley full of bones, enough bones to "keep paleontologists busy indefinitely," as Frederick Buechner writes. He was told to speak the Word of the Lord to these bones. Then in the midst of his words creeping through the valley, a sound appeared; then another until rattling bones throughout were coming together; sinews were on them; flesh grew and skin covered them. Then, to make this multitude complete, he prophesied to the breath, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." (Ezekiel 37:9)

Afterward God pulls Ezekiel aside for an explanation. He said, "These bones are the whole house of Israel; they are dried up because their hope has perished (they were under Babylonian captivity). . . Now I will put My Spirit within them and they will come to life. I will place them in their own land. Then they will know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 37:11, 14)