11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’

12 Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

13 Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.

14 I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.’”

— Ezekiel 37:11-14

I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death.

— Hosea 13:14a

28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice

29 and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

— John 5:28-29

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Ezekiel understood that the God who knows everything can do anything, even bring life from death. The Lord instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the dead bones. Ezekiel declared God’s very words: “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” God’s power and glory was revealed through the bones’ restoration. As Ezekiel obeyed God and prophesied to the dead bones, God rejuvenated and transformed the brittle bones into a vast army. This vision communicates more than God’s power to resurrect people from death. God has a purpose in revealing this remarkable scene.

These dry and disconnected bones represented a scattered people, the exiled nation of Israel. Cut off from their national heritage, homeland, and worship, the Israelites felt utterly hopeless and deadened by sin’s consequences. The bones, resurrected in this valley, carried a hope-filled message to God’s exiled people. God promised to open the graves and raise His people from death back to life. They would return to their land, know He is the Lord, and receive God’s life-giving Spirit within them. They would know that only God could and would do this for His people. The Lord’s restoration of His exiled people would also accomplish His plans and reveal His power, sovereignty, and worth to the nations.