Can These Bones Live?

Can These Bones Live?
by
Josprel

Part One

[A study of prophecy relating to Israel, the Gentile nations, and the Biblical relationship these nations have to near-future events.]

“The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said unto me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’

“Again He said unto me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say unto them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live . . .’

“‘So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone . . . Also He said to me . . . ‘say to the breath‘ Thus says the Lord God ‘come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied . . . and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said unto me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘O my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come forth from your graves, and bring you to the land of Israel . . . I will put My Spirit in you and you shall live . . .’” (Ezekiel 37:1-14; New King James Bible).
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We are living in an era of the fast fulfillment of biblical prophecy. I recall being told as a young child by my father - a steadfast Christian who knew the scriptures – that Israel one day would become a nation again. He said this during a time when such an event appeared impossible of fulfillment; yet in our era Israel already has been resurrected for decades.

Since the scattering of Israel during the time of Jeremiah (who predicted both the captivity and the re-gathering of the nation) in approximately B.C 629, there were no lack of skeptics who doubted the nation would be resurrected. Even Israel itself voiced doubts about it. Israel’s estimate of its return from oblivion may be found in Ezekiel 37:11: “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: We are cut off for our parts.” In our vernacular this may be rendered: “It’s all over for us. We have been totally dismembered.”

The condition of Israel’s bones as seen by Ezekiel:
1. They were completely open to the elements (verse 2).
2. They were long dead, very dry and beyond human hope of life (verse 2).
3. They were disassembled and in disarray. The Living Bible records that the bones were very old and dry. They were scattered everywhere across the ground (Read the entire account).
4. There were an enormous number of bones (verse 2).

What God said the dry bones symbolized:
”Son of man these bones are the whole house of Israel” (verse 11).

Those whom God blames for the dry bones of Israel:
“‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!’ says the Lord, “Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: ‘You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold I will attend to you for the evils of your doing,’ says the Lord . . .”

By whose authority the dry bones live again:
“I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their folds” [This already has been occurring in our era for several generations [Jeremiah 23: 1-4; NKJ].

God’s remedy for the dry bone of Israel:
“‘[Israel] shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed nor shall they be lacking,’ says the Lord” [The Lord Himself has been gathering Israel, and He continues to do so in our era (Jeremiah 23: 1-4; NKJ)].

God’s judgment upon those who did not believe the dry bones could live again:
“The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, ‘Son of man, prophecy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: ‘Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’ For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the gentiles. The sword will come upon Egypt, And great anguish shall be upon Ethiopia, When the slain fall in Egypt, And they take away her wealth, And her foundations are broken down. Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people. Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword’” (Ezekiel 30: 1-5; NKJ).

Ethiopia did not believe the dry bones could live again: Rendered “Cush” in Hebrew, Ethiopia corresponds to what today is called the Sudan. The Sudanese are a people of dark skin tone, and Moses was severely criticized by his sister, Miriam, and his brother, Aaron, for his marriage to an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1-16; NKJ).

Both Miriam and Aaron were envious of the leadership position of their brother Moses. Miriam instigated an open rebellion against Moses and Aaron followed her lead. To justify the rebellion, they used the excuse that Moses had married an Ethiopian (Cugotcha2e) woman. The Lord punished Miriam by striking her with leprosy; however, Moses pleaded with Him, “Heal her now oh Lord, I beseech thee.”

God heard the prayer of Moses. He healed Miriam, though not without inflicting profound humiliation upon her; she was ostracized from the people and shut outside the camp for seven days.

The Nations and the Millennium:
Ethiopia: According to Psalm 68, verse 31, Ethiopia “will quickly stretch out her hands to God,” and shall enter into the Millennium.

Libya (Also called “Phut” in the Bible): Libya did not believe the dry bones could live again: Writings of the 13th and 12th centuries B.C. describe Libya (also referred to as Lubim) as being a hostile, warlike people. During the 12th through the 8th centuries B.C., Libyans raided Egypt, then enter as settlers, and also served as soldiers in the Egyptian armies. West of Egypt, Libya still exists as a nation in our time. The Bible is silent regarding the future of Libya during the millennial age.

Lydia (Also called “Lud” and “Ludim” in some versions of the Bible): Lydia did not believe the dry bones could live again: During the time of Homer, the Pelasgic Meonians - akin to the Trojans - occupied Lydia. From what race the Lydians originated is a mystery. The Greeks considered the Lydians and their language barbarous; nonetheless, the Lydians were a highly civilized people.

Completed in Part Two