“Again, He said unto me, ‘Prophesy upon these bones and say unto them, O you dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord’. . .So I prophesied as I was commanded.”
Ezekiel 37:4, 7a
Even if what we’re saying or doing doesn’t make sense (to us or others), do it anyway if the Lord has told you to do so. Bones don’t have ears; yet, God told Ezekiel to preach to them.
Even now we can see him standing there in that Death Valley…thousands of bleached-out, white, brittle bones gleaming in the sun…crying “Thus says the Lord.” Later on, he’d be instructed to also “prophesy unto the wind,” which he did (vv.9-10).
From a rational point-of-view, such seemed absurd. But, we should always remember the “natural mind cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God, for they are spiritually discerned” (I Cor. 2:14b); in fact, “they are foolishness (Grk. ‘moria’—‘silliness, absurd, moronic, stupid, blockhead, etc.’) unto him” (v.14a).
That’s why it’s important for us to not hesitate or contemplate when the Lord God says “Go and do;” otherwise, we’ll end up listening to the voice of Reason rather than the Spirit, which leads to the sin of disobedience.
Now, assuredly, we must not assume that every impulse or notion that crosses our mind is of God. Truly, we are to “test every spirit to see if it is of God” (I Jn. 4:1). However, when we’re “hiding His Word in our hearts each day” (Ps. 119:11). . . “abiding in Christ” (Jn. 15:1-7). . . seeking to “walk in the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1). . .and “studying to show ourselves approved unto God as a workman that needs not to be ashamed” (II Tim. 2:15). . .we can rest assured the Holy Spirit will “guide us in our thoughts and actions” (Jn. 16:13; Prov. 3:5-6).
Sometimes we’ll see someone we’ve never met before. Yet, seemingly out-of-the-blue, the Voice within us will say “Give him some money.” While checking out at the store, the same Voice will whisper, “Say a word of encouragement to her.” Or, as she sets your food before you in the restaurant and prepares to leave, you ask the waitress, “Ma’am, we’re fixing to thank the Lord for our food and were wondering if there’s anything you’d like us to pray for in your life?”
Don’t be surprised if she says “Yes” and shares a burden with you as tears stream down her face.
Burning bushes and “dry bone valleys” so often are found in the same place. How often spontaneous, serendipitous, Spirit-directed encounters happen in the most unusual places and ways. The key is being sensitive to the Spirit’s Voice and responsive to His urging.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, the same God Who formed us in our mother’s wombs and has a beautiful plan for our lives is the same One Who’ll use us in miraculous ways if we’ll simply respond, “Here am I; send/use me” (Is. 6:8). So be ready: You’ll never know when those “dry bones” in your home, office, school, church, the mall, may suddenly begin “shakin’ and rattlin’” as the Spirit comes upon them (Ez. 37:7).
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated February 4, 2010
