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QUESTION 41
In Ezekiel 37, the prophet has a vision of a valley full of dry bones. Is this chapter prophesying the salvation of the Jewish people?

ANSWER:
It most certainly is prophesying the restoration of Israel. Ezekiel 37:11 the Lord explains this to the prophet. "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel." The picture God gave him here is a valley full of many dry bones. Ezekiel 37:2. This represent Israel as they now are scattered all over the earth and their bones or hope, (Ezekiel 37:11) is very dry. They have now waited many years for their promised Messiah, but to them He has not yet come. You will note in reading this that the prophet, like many in our day, is not sure that these bones or Israel can live and be restored. God has made unconditional promises to Abraham and the Jewish people that He must and will fulfill. (See Genesis 12:2-3 and Genesis 17:5-8) Even Paul in writing to the Romans reminds them that "God has not cast away His people Israel" Romans 11:1 and that a Deliverer will come and save them. Romans 11:26.

What we have in Ezekiel 37, is the prophet prophesying twice to the dry bones. In Ezekiel 37:7-8. He prophesied to those bones and a strange thing happened in his vision. There was a shaking and a noise and those bones came together and flesh appeared on them and skin; But there was no life in them. This is the national resurrection or restoration of the nation in 1948. It was in that year that Israel became a nation after nearly twenty-six hundred years. They are alive nationally, but dead spiritually. This first prophesy is explained in Ezekiel 37:12. God says there that He would open their graves (that is, where they have been buried among the nations for all these years) and bring them into the land of promise. This He has fulfilled, partially at least, in 1948.

The prophet is again told to prophesy in Ezekiel 37:10, and this time life comes into those people and they live. So, He explains this in Ezekiel 37:14 by saying "I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live. This is the spiritual resurrection or the new birth of Israel. This has not taken place yet. It will be so when He comes in Revelation 19:11 and they will "look on Him whom they have pierced" (Revelation 1:7 and Zech. 12:10), and a "nation will be born again in a day" Isaiah 66:7-10.

This is the same Spirit all need in order to be saved. Jesus said, "Ye Must be born again" John 3:7 That birth is explained in John 1:12-13. All that receive Him, trusting Him as Saviour from sin are born of God.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen