Why did God give Ezekiel this strange vision? It wasn’t to give him an idea for a scary skeleton costume to wear to a haunted house. But it was to give him a message for the house of Israel. The dry bones represented Israel, driven from the land because of their sin. But just as the dead bones came back to life, God was letting his people know that he would keep his promise. God promised, “I will give you a new heart. I will put my Spirit within you so you will obey my rules. I will take you home to the place I promised Abraham. I will make you one nation with one king—a king like David. I will save and cleanse you from your sins, and make with you a covenant that lasts forever. You will always be my people, and I will always be your God” (see 36:26–28; 37:21–26). As sure as the dead bones came to life, God would keep these promises.

The vision also shows us how Jesus, the promised king like David, saves you and me. Like those dry bones, we are spiritually dead. But when God speaks his powerful word and sends his Holy Spirit, he breathes new life in us—just like he did for the bones! We were dead in our sins; God has made us alive with Christ (see Eph. 2:5). Through faith in Jesus we are raised from death to life!