Ezekiel is one of the books in the Bible that most of us shy away from. It is nestled close to the end of the Old Testament and records seven prophetic visions. These visions have three basic themes; the judgment of Israel, the judgment of nations and the future blessings of Israel.

The following passage is found in the “future blessings” section and it speaks to natural Israel and spiritual Israel, the church. It is often referred to as the “Valley of Dry Bones” vision.

“The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

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

4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” (NLT)

One of the greatest creative miracles I have ever witnessed exemplified this “blessing” passage. I was teaching at a women’s conference in Florida in 1996. My messages were structured on the topic of “The Blood Covenant.” As I taught the first meeting on Friday night, I noticed a young women sitting alone in the back of the room. She was focused on every word and took notes with great intensity. The next morning she was back, listening, learning and receiving with her whole being. As a speaker, you notice when someone is so engaged.

At the end of the third teaching session, I gave an invitation for ministry and to be anointed with oil for healing according to James 5:13-15. She came forward and I anointed her and prayed a simple prayer. The power of God began to move on her as it did on the dry bones in the Ezekiel vision. I continued to pray for others but, as she remained on her knees at the altar, I could tell something mighty was happening. That day she was completely healed and restored.

This young woman had been in a car accident in college. Her hip and leg had been crushed. The doctors had wired everything back together and her recovery left her with a limp and the inability to give birth to a child because of the weakness of her pelvic bones. She loved children and had dedicated her life to teaching elementary children yet she would never have a child of her own because of the accident. About a month before my coming to the women’s conference, she had received the bad news that the blood flow to her hip area had become restricted. A bone marrow transplant from her leg, which exacerbated her limp, had not generated the healing blood flow she needed. She was in desperate need of the wind of the Holy Spirit to blow over her dry bones and bring them to life! And He did!

After her miracle healing, I requested that she go to the doctor and have it all documented. She agreed and her doctor confirmed that God had done what no man could do! She asked if she could now have a baby. He counseled her to wait six months for the bones to strengthen. She became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful child.

Where there is no hope, only dryness and wasted lives, the power of God can always move and bring restoration if we seek Him and believe that He is a faithful, true to His word, covenant God!