I Don’t Know, But God Does

Son of man, can these bones become living people again?   Ezekiel 37:3

How would you have answered that question? Ezekiel could have said yes. And there are some people who would agree with that answer today. I recently heard a well-known Bible teacher announce that America unquestionably is on the brink of the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit the world has ever seen. He was absolutely certain about it. I hope he’s right, but I don’t know how he knows that. There is a great danger in confusing naive optimism with faith.

Ezekiel could also have said no. There are people who would say that today too. It’s very easy, in a culture where Christianity is becoming the minority position, to feel that the church will fade into insignificance. I’ve heard this predicted, and I hope it’s wrong, but how can we know the future?

Ezekiel’s response is a model of faith: “O Sovereign LORD, . . . you alone know the answer to that” (Ezekiel 37:3). The prophet was saying, “Lord, there’s no way I can know what you’re going to do with these bones.” There’s great humility in his response.

We need an attitude that says, “Lord, keep me from the arrogance that says yes. Keep me from the spirit that says, ‘I know how it works; I can make it happen.’ Keep me from the presumption that says, ‘We can reclaim this country for Christ.’”

We also need an attitude that says, “Lord, keep me from the unbelief that says no. Keep me from the spirit that says, ‘These are dark days, and the difficulties are so great that I cannot see any possibility of change.’” Ezekiel would neither despair nor presume; he found his rest in the sovereignty of God.

Similarly, we should say, “Lord, I don’t know if the future of this country holds revival or decline, but you do. I don’t know whether those I pray for will come to Christ or will remain hardened, but you know. I don’t know whether we’ll see a great missionary advance or we’ll find the doors closing, but you know. The future of those I pray for is known only to you, and I’ll rest in your sovereignty.”

For further reading, see Habakkuk 3