The Only Correct Answer

“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Ezekiel 37:1-3 NASB
When God asked the prophet Ezekiel “Can these bones live?” the prophet did not consult holy writings.
He did not say, “Well, you probably have done this in the past.”
He did not say, “Yes!” with great zeal.
He simply said “O Lord God, You know.”
When I was young in the Lord I would read that scripture and think the prophet’s answer was a cop-out.His answer frustrated me.I used to think he was too timid to say, “Yes God, you can make them live.”, that he hung back and had little faith.After all, wasn’t he a prophet?
Speak up man!I used to think when I read that passage, God, the One True and Holy God has asked you a question.Obviously He wants you to proclaim your faith in His works.He wants you to say yes with conviction!
But recently I saw it from another perspective.
Ezekiel was in such deep communication, fellowship, with God that the only correct answer was “O Lord God, You know.”
In other words, I’m listening, I’m waiting, I’m ready to do what you say, God. Tell me.
I’m waiting on Your Word and I will not hazard to guess what You are doing. I will not try to predict the future, not even based on Your past dealings with me.
I am a hungry child, waiting on Your every Word as if it were food, (as it truly is food for the soul) holding my breath until You speak.I will not move until you say so and I am at complete rest in doing that.I am not worried if the bones can live.I am not trying to drum up my own faith and proclaim it, because the King of Glory is standing right beside me, speaking to me.
When we are born again into God’s kingdom, somehow He has seen fit to allow us to participate in His works and He is going to tell us step by step what to do and say.
We only have to wait on His word.

Image: The Vision of Ezekiel: the Valley of Dry Bones, by John Roddam Spencer Stanhope