Stroll through Scripture for December 7, 2015

Based on Ezekiel 37:1-14

Ezekiel experiences a vision.  God is showing him a valley of dry bones.  Imagine being in a parched space where everything around you looks bone dry.  Have you ever wandered through a deserted space?  Nothing moves unless there is wind.    

Some time back I drove through Centralia in Cambria County Pennsylvania.  It’s an almost abandoned town of a former coal mining community.  It was abandoned because of a constant burning coal fire taking place underground since 1962.   It’s dangerous to visit due to potential mine collapses.  

I wonder what Ezekiel’s vision would sound like if he were shown Centralia, with the abandoned homes, tall grass in the yards, unkept streets, and more.  What would the dry bones be in that context?  

You can’t do much with dry bones.  They are brittle.  And yet, God shows Ezekiel a valley of dry bones – probably as far as the eye can see.  The vision gives a sense of hopelessness.  That there is no point to going on.  

And yet, God brings life where there is nothing but death.  Humans don’t do it.  Humans are usually the ones causing the death.  Sometimes even in the name of God.  But raises up people, even from death.  God defeats death.  God restores.   God resurrects.  God puts hope into action.  

In this case, it is the people of Israel.  This isn’t an individual resurrection.  It’s the resurrection of a people.  Ezekiel 37 was written during the Babylonian exile – when the people felt lost and hopeless.  They looked around and they were constantly reminded of their oppression and their lack of hope.  And it is during this that God not only gives them hope but shows a vision of how God will do it with the least likely materials and opportunities and people.  

The valley of dry bones becomes a valley of life and hope.  This is an appropriate message for us today too, especially in Advent.  Advent teaches us to wait for God – something we would rather not do.  But God doesn’t work on our time.  

When the world feels like it has sucked all the life and hope out of us collectively, we are reminded by Ezekiel that God hasn’t given up.  When it looks like there is nothing of value and no way forward, Ezekiel reminds us that God creates a way.  That is good news indeed.  

Questions for further reflection:

• What are the valley of dry bones that you see around you?
• How is God turning those dry bones into life again?