Day 251 – Ezekiel 37-39

Talking Points

• God gives His people the promise and hope of a blessed future. As His people, we can always be sure — the best is yet to come!
• In a strange, somewhat gruesome vision, God shows Ezekiel a valley filled with dry bones that come back to life to represent His restoration of Israel. The bones are described as parched and “very dry” (Ezekiel 37:2). He asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” (37:3). Don’t forget: God can restore that which is hopeless, lifeless, and dead.
• While this vision is regarding Israel being brought back, it stirs up thoughts of God’s work in personal salvation. True to His character, God takes those who are hopeless, dead in their sin, and by grace through faith, makes them alive in Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
• God also promises that Israel will be joined back together into one kingdom, ruled by one king forever, in an everlasting covenant, and with God’s presence and His sanctuary in their midst forever.
• As believers in Jesus Christ, we also look forward to a day of eternal unity, peace, and the resulting joy — all in His presence!
• God gives Ezekiel a prophecy that Gog of Magog will invade Israel, but that God will cause a great earthquake, torrential rains, hail, fire, and brimstone. Again, we see that God will act in such a way as to magnify Himself and make His name known. Where His name had been profaned, it will not be any longer. Israel will fully know God’s grace and mercy.

Thoughts

Do you ever wonder what God wants? Ever wish you could just hear Him tell you exactly what He wants you to do? What could the God of the universe possibly want from us?

I think, in Ezekiel 37, He gives us a glimpse into His desires.

• He wants His people in the land He promised them.
• He wants them to turn from their idols and worship Him, alone.
• He wants them to cast off the detestable things and transgressions they defile themselves with.
• He wants to deliver them and cleanse them.
• He wants them to walk in His wise and righteous will.
• He wants them to be at peace — everlasting peace.
• He wants every eye to see Him, to know He is God.
• He wants Christ to be their one Shepherd.
• He wants to be with them, actually in their midst.
• He wants them to be His people.
• He wants to be their God.

That’s His character. That’s who God is. It’s what He wants. He wants to be our God. So, He made a way. He restores. He redeems. He brings the dead back to life.

Why wouldn’t we want to follow such a God?