Connect Ezekiel 37:5 with Genesis 2:7 regarding God's life-giving breath. Setting the Stage: Two Scenes of Divine Breath God’s breath bookends the human story: first in the creation of Adam, then in the resurrection vision of Ezekiel. Both passages pull back the curtain on the same miracle—dust and dead bones come alive when God exhales. The Divine Breath in Genesis 2:7 “Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) • Dust has no spark until God breathes. • Life is not merely biological; it is a gift directly imparted by the Creator. • The breath (“ruach”) is personal—God is face-to-face with Adam, sharing His own life. Resurrection Breath in Ezekiel 37:5 “This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.” (Ezekiel 37:5) • Israel in exile felt like a valley of skeletons—hopeless and motionless. • God promises the same remedy He used in Eden: His breath. • The result is not partial recovery but full, vibrant life—“and you will live.” Ruach: One Hebrew Word, One Source of Life • “Ruach” means breath, wind, or spirit. • Whether forming Adam or reviving Israel, the same ruach proceeds from God’s mouth. • The Spirit is God’s personal, invigorating presence, not an impersonal force. Themes That Unite the Two Passages Life originates with God. • Creation and re-creation both depend on His initiative. • Job 33:4—“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Life requires God’s ongoing breath. • Psalm 104:29-30—when He withdraws breath, creatures die; when He sends it, they are created anew. Life points forward to resurrection hope. • Ezekiel’s vision previews the ultimate resurrection promised in Isaiah 26:19 and fulfilled in Christ (John 5:25-29). Personal Implications Today • Every heartbeat testifies that God’s breath still sustains us (Acts 17:25). • Spiritual vitality likewise comes from His breath—His Spirit—poured out in the new birth (John 3:5-8). • Scripture itself is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16), carrying the same life-infusing power whenever we open it. Other Scriptural Echoes of God’s Life-Giving Breath • John 20:22—Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” • Revelation 11:11—“the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet.” Closing Thoughts From Eden’s garden to Ezekiel’s valley, God’s breath turns dust and death into living, thriving beings. The message is clear: real life—physical, spiritual, and eternal—flows only from the God who still breathes His Spirit into those who will receive Him. |
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