I've Got a Bone to Pick With You!

I've Got a Bone to Pick With You!

The expression I've Got a Bone to Pick With You!  means that there is something we need to clear up so we can come to a mutual understanding of what is going on. Often a quiet conversation is necessary.

Have you ever gone to God and told him that there is something we need to discuss because I am not happy the way things are going? God sits back, smiles and says “Have at it, just go for it.”  After we vent for awhile and let it all out, God reminds us that he has everything in control, and for us not to worry.

Today I wanted to speak a bit about bones. Did you know when you bake a chicken, or get one of those roasted ones from the grocery story, that you should take the carcass and put all the bones in a pot and boil them. Remove as much of any meat left and there you have the makings for a hearty soup - - just add some noodles or veggies.

Today I want us to take a look in the Bible and discover several mentions of bones:

In the beginning God took a rib BONE from Adam and created a woman. When Adam saw his wife Eve, he said, “Genesis 2:23 This is now BONE of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Joseph in Egypt requested that his bones be carried back to the promised land and burried there. And Moses took Joseph's bones with them as they left for the promised land.

Balaam speaking about God and His children, said in Numbers 24:8;

God brought them forth out of Egypt; he has as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up his enemies, and shall break their BONES, and pierce them through with his arrows.

A certain Levite took to himself a concubine, but she was not faithful to him, and ran away, He went after her and on their way home, they stayed in the house of a stranger who welcomed them. That night the men of the city came requesting the man to come pleasure them, but the host told them no, I will give you my daughter. The Levite said, no, take my concubine, and the next morning she lay at the door dead. According to Judges 19:29 when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her BONES, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. This was a warning against the sexual promiscuous in that day.

1 Kings 13 tells us about a prophet who disobeyed the Lord, ended up being slain by a lion. The priest who caused this was so grieved that after he had buried him; he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulcher wherein the man of God is buried; lay my BONES beside his bones.

Through out the book of Job, he moans many times about his bones - - - Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

2 Kings 13 tells us about Elisha's bones:  "And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the body into the sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet."

Proverbs mentions bones many times: These are two verses we need to remember.
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Isaiah 58:11 Reminds us of a precious promise:  "And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat thy BONES: and you shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

David prophesied about Jesus on the cross: Psalms 34:20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken. This was important, for we know that Pilot told the soldier to break the legs of those crucified, because the sabbath was approaching. When they saw that Jesus was already dead, they did not break his bones, but one of the soldiers pierced his side and from it came blood and water. His blood was completely shed for you and for me. Jesus has suffered and died so that we can be free, but those without him need to make a choice and decision to invite Him into their lives before they can enjoy eternal life He so willing desires to give.

We know the story about Ezekiel 37:14 and the valley of dry bones, Shall these bones live? God said, to the prophet, prophesy to them and tell them to live. We know that as Ezekiel prophesied, there was a shaking and the bones came together and little by little flesh came on the dry bones, but there was no life. 

Again God said to prophesy to the four winds to blow on the dead bodies, and then life came and they up stood a great army. 

"And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, says the LORD."

God says this is what I need to do to my sleeping people in our cities, our States and in our Nation:

God promises eternal life which begins the moment a person receives Jesus into their life.

There is much to consider today about bones, Bones tell a story, Bones can live, and God desires to put life into our city, our State our Nation. 

As we pray today for our citizens, let us remind God that these bones shall live, and prophesy to the four winds to blow over our bones each and every one of us.