We have 206 bones in our bodies. The skeleton serves six major functions: support, movement, protection, production of blood cells, storage of minerals and endocrine regulation. Without them we could not move, our organs would have no protection, and we would have no blood. Bones represent many things in the Bible:
1. The core of our being
2. The uncleanness of death
3. The judgment of God
4. Close family relationship
5. Blessing in our innermost being
6. Ironically, revival
When Joseph was old and dying, he made his family promise that when God brought their descendants out of Egypt, they would not leave his bones there. He wanted to be buried in the land God promised Abraham, where he was born and raised (Gen 50:25). About 200 years later, Moses took Joseph's bones with him when Israel left Egypt (Ex 13:19). Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before they entered Canaan (Num 14). This whole time they were carrying Joseph's bones around with them. They finally buried them about 20 years after the conquest of Canaan (Josh 24:32). Why did they go through all that? It was because Joseph's bones represented faith in the promise of God. Even death and almost 300 years could not stop Joseph's faith in seeing the promise of God fulfilled (Heb 11:32).
The most important bones of all are the bones of Jesus Christ. We do not have any of them today because He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven (Lk 24:39, Acts 1:9). If we had His bones, people would make an idol out of them. They, like the bones of Joseph, represent the promise of eternal life. None of His bones were broken despite the humiliation, beating, torture, scourging, and crucifixion He endured (Ps 34:20, Jn 19:36). The bones of the men crucified beside Him were broken to speed up their deaths, but He was already dead. No bones of the passover lamb were to be broken. It was to be cooked whole (Ex 12:46, Num 9:12). Christ is our passover lamb (1Cor 5:7). He is called the Lamb 26 times in the book of Revelation). He took our sins, although He never sinned Himself (Jn 8:46, 2Cor 5:21, 1Pet 2:22, 1Jn 3:5). Although Jesus became our scapegoat and took the wrath of God toward sin on Himself, God was not actually angry at the man Christ Jesus (Is 53, Jn 8:16, Jn 16:32). None of His bones were broken.
God chose David to be king (1Sam 16), but he had to go through at least 20 attempts by the first king, Saul, to kill him first. David complained about his afflictions symbolically, even those caused by his own sins, through his bones:
1. Ps 31:10 - my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed
2 Ps 32:3 - my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long
3. Ps 38:3 - neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin
4. Ps 42:10 - As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me
5. Ps 51:8 - Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may
rejoice
6. Ps 141:7 - Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth
Yet God brought David through every trial and gave him eventual victory in every situation. We may feel like our bones are broken. We feel wounded and weakened. We sometimes think we will never fully recover from the damage we have suffered, but God is able to revive even the dry bones and make us whole(Eze 37). When a man died in battle and there was no place to bury him, his fellow soldiers threw him into the grave of the prophet Elisha which was nearby (2Ki13:21). Elisha was the successor of Elijah. There are 7 recorded miracles God did in the ministry of Elijah. Elisha was promised a double portion of the anointing of Elijah. Elisha did 13 miracles in his lifetime. However, when the soldier's body touched the bones of Elisha, he came back to life. Nothing is over until God says it is over. He always ha the last word, and it is never too late for Him to fulfill His word. No bones are broken when they are in His hands. Nothing is too dead for God to resurrect.