Raising Dry Bones

By Amzi Clarence Dixon


A DRY BONE is a proof of extinct life, for bones are made only in living organisms. Israel as a nation was once a living organism full of the life of God. But Israel sinned, and then came decay with disintegration, until now Israel has become like a valley of dry bones scattered over the earth. Man, created in the image of God, was a living organism filled with the life of God, but man sinned, and then came decay with disintegration which has made the world a valley of bones. Now there is no process known to science by which a dry bone can be suddenly changed into a living organism. When, therefore, God asked the prophet, "Can these bones live?" the prophet was compelled to refer the question back to God for an answer. "O Lord God, thou and thou alone knowest. If these bones are ever made to live, thou wilt have to tell us how." And in this chapter God answers the question as to how dry bones of all ages may be made to live.

The Prophet's Preparation

In the first place, those commissioned to raise dry bones must have a special preparation. This preparation is twofold. One must see a vision of God and receive the touch of God. In the first chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy we are told that he saw visions of God! He saw wings with human hands under them; a vision of the divine and human--the wing everywhere symbolizes divinity and the hand, humanity--the divine controlling the human, for the wings moved the hands. He saw winged creatures with the face of a man symbolizing intelligence, the face of a lion symbolizing courage, the face of an ox symbolizing patience, and the face of an eagle symbolizing aspiration, all under control of the divine wings. The need of every prophet of God is that his intelligence, courage, patience and aspiration shall be linked with God and be completely controlled by Him.

In this vision Ezekiel feels the touch of God. "The hand of the Lord was upon me." The hand of the Lord symbolizes His power, and to be under His hand is to be endued with His power. The Spirit of God is in every Christian for life, but every Christian is not under God's hand for power.

The prophet responds to the touch of God and goes where He leads. "The hand of the Lord was upon me and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley, which was full of bones." He was willing to be led by the Lord's hand into the valley of bones. The temptation is for us to seek the garden with its flowers rather than the valley with its bones.

The prophet also responds when God's hand sets him down in the midst of the bones. Dwelling with the bones is more trying than just going to them on a temporary mission. To have bones for neighbors and companions may not be pleasant. We have a taste for the company of living people. But unless we are ready to respond to the hand of God which would lead us to the bones and make us dwell among them, we are not prepared for the work of raising them to life. The work cannot be done at a distance. The millions who throng the streets, crowd the theaters, drink in saloons and revel in dance halls, shunning the church as they would the pest house, cannot be reached by the pastor in his study making eloquent sermons for his cultured congregation, nor by the Christians who meet in parlors, halls and churches for fellowship and Bible study. Thank God for the men and women who gladly respond to the hand of God leading them to the most sinful and hopeless.

The Test of Faith

Three things severely tested the prophet's faith.

The bones were very many. The valley was white with them. To reach them all by personal effort was impossible. And yet the multitude of the bones did not cause the faith of the prophet to fail, for his eyes were upon God and he believed that God was equal to such a task. As we look at millions unreached by the Gospel, we may be appalled, but the eye of faith sees God still equal to the great work of reaching and saving. No difficulty can surpass His resources.