Day 257

Alive Again

Read: Ezekiel 37-39

Judah’s problem is not only that it is in exile, but much more seriously that it is spiritually dead. The deadness is emphasized by the fact that the bones are “very dry.” The question “Can these bones live?” is meant to imply a “no” (37:3). Humanly speaking the cause is hopeless, but what human beings cannot do, God can do. Through the word (“prophesy to these bones”) and the Spirit (the Hebrew ruach can mean either “breath” or “spirit”), God causes the bones to become living people once again. God causes people who are spiritually dead to become spiritually alive. What a miracle!

The referral is to what God will do in bringing the people from exile and causing them to be much more spiritually alive than they had been for centuries. But this also illustrates the fact that God can bring from death to life. Jesus did this for Lazarus. God raised his Son from the dead. We are by nature spiritually dead, but by his Word and Spirit, God gives spiritual life to his people. At the end of the world, by his miraculous power, he will cause all who are physically dead to live again. Praise God!

God is a God who rescues his people though they do not deserve it. He did that for Judah, but on a far greater scale he does that for us today. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

PRAYER
Father, we were spiritually dead. You have made us spiritually alive and cared for us. We praise you. In the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.