Slain in the Valley

            In Ezekiel chapter 37, the prophet Ezekiel is taken out by the spirit of God and set in a valley.  This valley is riddled with many dry bones and Ezekiel is led by God, back and forth among them.  After treading the valley floor for a time, God asks the prophet "Son of man, can these bones live?" and Ezekiel looks around and says "You alone know, O Sovereign Lord." The Lord then tells Ezekiel to prophesy to these bones and tell them:

            "... 'Dry bones, hear the word of The Lord!  This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones:  I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.  I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life.  Then you will know that I am The Lord.'"

–  Ezekiel 37:4-6 (NIV)

            After speaking these words, the scripture says that Ezekiel began to hear a rattling sound; the sound of bones coming together.  He looked and tendons, flesh and skin formed on the bones.  The bones now had composition, forming bodies, but they had no life; no breath was in them.  The next part then reads:

            "Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army."

–  Ezekiel 37:9-10 (NIV)

            Finally, God explains to Ezekiel that those bones were indeed the whole house of Israel, The Lord's chosen people, once dead and without hope.  But now, by the hand and grace of God, they live yet again.

            Now meditate on the imagery and place yourself in that setting.  Can you imagine God setting you, a man/woman of God, familiar to the works of His hands, in a valley with only death in its wake? Imagine how desolate it must've seemed to walk up and down a valley of bones.  It seemed so hopeless that when asked if those bones could live, even a man familiar with God's works had no answer.  Did Ezekiel lack faith in The Lord?  Did the valley look so much beyond God's power that it cause Ezekiel to lose heart, even in God's presence?  But then again being human myself, I can't really blame Ezekiel for what he must've thought.  From a militant viewpoint, being in a valley is a strategic disadvantage.  A valley is defined as a low area between hills or mountains; mountains on which enemies can spring an attack on an unsuspecting victim.  I remember my uncle, an officer in the U.S. Army, telling me of a time in an Afghan valley when he and 7 other men were caught in an ambush after losing 4 men to an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).  Despite having to instantly recuperate from the shock the explosion had caused, he and his team had no time to do anything but respond to this attack.  Using the training and experience that he earned through his dedication, blood, sweat and tears, he came up with an objective and with true grit, led his men into the uphill firefight.  The odds were against them, 10 to 1, and though the situation looked bleak, my uncle stood focused on one thing.  Three hours earlier at base, God had given my uncle a vision:  He stood in a valley on a dirt road and on that road ahead of him laid a dismembered human limb.  At first he was startled at this, until he heard a voice saying, "But you will be okay".  Three hours later, after the IED took out the 4 men in the Humvee ahead of his own there laid the limb of his fallen comrade, exactly as he saw it in the vision.  The firefight ends after 7 hours of intense battle with over 80 enemies slain and his team having only lost the 4 men to the IED.  A true testament of faith and courage in the face of adversity.

            These valleys represent hardships and struggles in our lives and sometimes it is God's will for us to go through these trials, in order for us to grow in character.  But what could these bones represent in your life?  Could they be your dead dreams, lost to discouragement?  Could they be your slain hope from the loss of a loved one?  Tell me, child of God, what have you lost in the battle of the valley?  Is it your faith, love, your desires, hope, trust, your calling, peace, your dreams, self-esteem or your zeal for The Lord?  "CAN THESE BONES LIVE AGAIN?", says The Lord.  Has He not unmatched strength, power and authority overcome it all?  Did Jesus not say:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

–  John 16:33 (NIV)

             God rose those dead bones from the dust into a vast army; an army ready to set out into the world and commit to their calling.  My prayer right now is for all of us to cry out to God for the revival of the things that were slain in the valley.  If The Lord has put something on your heart, understand that you are unstoppable and you are the only one that can stop yourself.  And honestly, sometimes God doesn't even let you stop yourself.  Have heart and believe there is hope for the dead things that God has destined for your life.  Take your concerns and dreams and place them at the foot of God's throne, with faith, and see if they will not live.  I am with you in spirit, brother/sister, should you have requests for prayer, do not hesitate to use the contact form to the right.  God bless you.

With Love and Blessings,

Cease The Messenger