The Valley of Dry Bones
Ilumi Kids · Stories
Ezekiel was a prophet who loved God. One day, God's Spirit took him on an amazing journey, like he was dreaming while awake. He found himself in the middle of a very, very big valley.
This wasn't an ordinary valley, full of flowers and trees. It was completely full of bones, scattered everywhere. They had been there for so long that they were white and very, very dry.
In a vision, God took Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones and asked if they could live. Ezekiel prophesied, and the bones came together and were covered with muscles and skin. When God’s breath entered them, they stood up like a great army. God explained that he would bring new life and hope to his people.
Where it is in the Bible: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Nothing is impossible for God; he can bring new life where there seems to be no hope.
After reading, use these questions to help your child remember and apply the story.
Ezekiel was a prophet who loved God. One day, God's Spirit took him on an amazing journey, like he was dreaming while awake. He found himself in the middle of a very, very big valley.
This wasn't an ordinary valley, full of flowers and trees. It was completely full of bones, scattered everywhere. They had been there for so long that they were white and very, very dry.
God guided Ezekiel among the bones. There were so many that it was impossible to count them. The silence in the valley was complete, and the scene was very striking.
Then, in the middle of that silence, God asked Ezekiel a surprising question. It was a question that seemed to have an impossible answer.
God: Son of man, can these bones live again?
Ezekiel wisely answered that only the Lord God knew the answer. Then, God gave him a very special command: "Speak to these bones in my name! Tell them that I will give them life!"
Ezekiel obeyed. As soon as he began to speak God's words, an incredible noise started! It was a rattling sound, and the bones began to move and shake all over the valley.
Like a giant puzzle, each bone found its match. Foot bones joined leg bones, and soon entire skeletons were assembled, standing, all over the field.
As I prophesied, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. — Ezekiel 37:7
The vision became even more wonderful! After the skeletons formed, Ezekiel saw muscles and tendons growing and covering the bones. Then, skin covered everything, forming complete bodies.
Now, the valley no longer had bones, but many bodies instead. However, they were still motionless and lifeless, like statues. The most important part was missing.
God told Ezekiel to prophesy again, but this time to the breath of life. He commanded the breath to come and fill those bodies so they could live.
Ezekiel obeyed once more. When he spoke, God's breath of life entered the bodies. They began to breathe, opened their eyes, and stood up!
What was once a valley of dry bones was now a huge army of living people! God explained that the bones were like His people, who felt sad and without hope.
With that vision, God was promising that He would bring new life and hope to all of them. He showed Ezekiel and us that, for God, nothing is impossible.
I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live... — Ezekiel 37:14
