Have You Noticed the Skeleton Craze?

My post below was originally posted in Intercessors for America as an article. This version is just a little longer…

The fall season has arrived and many of us find ourselves taking long, relaxing walks in the cool air. As we casually stroll along, an unusual, perhaps disturbing sight enters our field of vision. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a gigantic 12-foot skeleton with glowing eyes! 

During the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020, a peculiar trend emerged known as the Skeleton Craze. It began when Home Depot launched an enormous Halloween decoration called “Skelly.” Weighing up to eighty-five pounds, the 12-foot skeleton ignited a frenzy as people dashed to nearby stores to secure their own bony behemoth. Almost immediately these massive skeletons sold out everywhere, but desperate would-be owners traveled hundreds of miles, even out of state, hoping to get their hands on one. Though Home Depot’s original price was $299.00, many were willing to pay exorbitant prices to have it shipped to their home, or to buy it on eBay for thousands of dollars.

Skeletons are Everywhere

It’s been four years since the Covid pandemic first began and the skeleton craze is still going strong. In fact, this phenomenon is exploding to the point where there aren’t just 12-foot skeleton decorations everywhere–now it’s skeletons of all sizes, shapes and types. Houses around America showcase dozens of human-like skeletons crawling up the walls, dangling from trees, perched on fences, sitting in lawn chairs, and scattered throughout yards. Skeletons of dogs, cats, chickens, squirrels and other animals are quite popular as well. Entire Facebook groups are devoted to “Skelly” owners, or those who appreciate all-things skeleton. (Below are some pictures of skeletons near my neighborhood…)

Strangely enough, some people are becoming attached to their skeletons. In Columbus, Ohio, one woman was so attached to her “Skelly” that he became a prop in her wedding, top hat and all. Many claim the decorative skeletons can provide emotional support, while others bring them on “dates” or to the beach. Furthermore, some homeowners have taken the trend past Halloween and into Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and the Fourth of July. Accessorizing “Skelly” or any size skeleton, is as easy as throwing on a Santa hat, bunny ears or donning an American flag.

The Fear Factor

The first time I encountered a 12-foot “Skelly,” it was a dark, rainy October night in 2020. Startled and bewildered, I almost ran my car off the road! Soon after that experience, I noticed more and more were popping up everywhere. This led me to pray.

The one thing that stood out to me was that all these skeletons were making their debut during a time when people were afraid of the Covid virus. Social media was ripe with posts about staying six feet apart, religiously sanitizing and wearing a mask (even outside). Much commentary was fear based as people warned that the virus was deadly and anyone could spread it to others. In the midst of this panic and mania, a multitude of giant skeletons (objects of fear and death) were being displayed in yards.

Skeletons have been used as a symbol of death for centuries, whether in artworks, literature or in films/movies. The overwhelming prevalence of the skeletons in 2020 and beyond was a strange, irrational oxymoron of sorts because many of the same people who were afraid of Covid and death were perfectly fine with allowing a 12-foot symbol of fear and death to grace their homes. It reminded me that people were not giving their fear and anxiety to the Lord. In fact, when asked about why the skeletons were so popular, many said they brought them a sense of joy and normalcy. Instead of reaching out to Jesus, some people bent over backwards to obtain these massive skeletons.

We Must Cast our Fears on Jesus

The Holy Spirit impressed upon me that the skeleton craze was simply the symptom of a spiritual sickness. Whether it was the saved or unsaved, many didn’t know how to cast their fear and anxiety on Jesus, who is the only One who can bring life from death. Instead, people were grasping for the world, which, like the skeleton, is in a state of death. This is still happening today as people continue to pursue fleshly desires instead of what God wants.  

The Dry Bones Will Come Alive  

While this revelation was important, I realized there was something even deeper going on and this was even more crucial to comprehend. The image that came to mind was from Ezekiel 37. This chapter describes the miraculous resurrection of the nation of Israel as prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel.

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breathto enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord, Ezekiel 37:1-6.

These verses compare the nation of Israel to a valley of lifeless, dry bones–essentially, a people dead to the world. But God had other plans.

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them… Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus, says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord, Ezekiel 37:7-8, 11-14.

Life from the Dead

Indeed, the Lord was reminding me that while it may seem that death has a foothold in this world, He is working behind the scenes to bring dry bones back to life. Since 2020 the violence against Israel has gone off the rails, but in the midst of this, the Lord was declaring that life would come from death. As Ezekiel prophesied, the Jewish people were brought back to their land for a purpose, and God’s plan is to bring restoration to their dry bones. All things are working together to fulfill His purposes. The skeletons being displayed around our nation seemed to declare death, but yet God’s plan would prevail over man’s schemes. The rampant rise of antisemitism is a symptom of death, but like the valley of dry bones, God would take these skeletons and put muscles and flesh upon them.

Death Has No Sting

Now when I look at the skeleton craze all around me, I am reminded that God can resurrect death at any moment. The Covid pandemic, the October 7, 2023 attacks and even the recent hurricanes all occurred as these skeletons began appearing across our landscape. While this might instill fear and a loss of hope in many people, we can be assured that DRY BONES ARE BEING RESURRECTED. Certainly, we don’t always know exactly how God is working things out, but we can know His plans are in motion and they are good. 

For the fall season this year, I was able to travel to northern Maine to view the beautiful landscape. I arrived on Rosh Hashanah, which is the beginning of the biblical new year. Surrounded by the colorful leaves, I imagined the piercing sound of the shofar as it signaled the return of the King.  (See picture of Maine in the Fall below)

Unfortunately, I had to cut my trip short because Hurricane Milton was heading to my home state of Florida. My last night there, I stayed at a hotel with a graveyard right behind it. Of course, most people think of death when they see a graveyard. But looking at the tombstones I remembered, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” After all, Jesus gives believers victory over death so we don’t have to fear it. (picture of the graveyard below)

When I arrived back home to Florida, I noticed that everyone was taking down their giant skeletons to prepare for the strong winds of Hurricane Milton. Suddenly I was reminded of Ezekiel 37 once again.

My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever.I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their landand multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore, Ezekiel 37:24-27.

These scriptures remind us that God will bring peace to the nation of Israel because the Prince of Peace will return and rule from Jerusalem. But it also declares to all believers that peace, not fear, can reign in the hearts of everyone who puts their hope in Jesus. Yes, there are giant skeletons everywhere these days, but hear the words of the sovereign Lord. “These bones shall live.” 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, the world is full of fear and death, but you bring life to our dry bones. Infuse hope into our spirits, even as skeletons rise amongst us. We trust that you are working all things together for good in our nation, in Israel, and around the world.