Just a Thought

Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” [Ezekiel 37.3]

What kind of question is that?  Notice Ezekiel's response to God's unusual question.

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

It is certainly no mistake that Ezekiel used the adjective "sovereign" to define God as Lord.  It is like Ezekiel replied, "It is not a matter of 'can' but 'will'.  In this instance, Ezekiel did not know God's will concerning the matter, but did not want to say anything foolish either... 

But why didn't Ezekiel just answer the question straight up?  Of course God CAN make living people again from dry bones!

It is important to recognize that God had given no previous promise concerning the life returning to these dry bones.  So, God's will is unknown - unlike other matters in which God's will IS directly known.  But, once again, God did not ask Ezekiel a question of "will" - he asked a question of "can".

At the end of verse 6 God essentially says "I will do this" and...

Then you will know that I am the Lord.

This sounds like a rebuke to me.  Just like God asking where Adam and Eve were in the garden - not so God would know where they were, but so THEY would know where they were - it seems to me God is asking Ezekiel this question to make Ezekiel understand his own position.

Obviously this was a learning situation for Ezekiel, but it would seem his answer to God should have been, "Absolutely they can live again!"  Instead, Ezekiel took the 'safe' route and gave a religious answer.

Just a thought...

Father, when You present these life questions to me, may You find great faith (and therefore great pleasure) in my responses.  Help me to discard religious dialog that sounds good but does not directly answer Your questions!