Ezekiel 1:13

The Bible says in Ezekiel 1:13-14, “As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.[14] And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.” Mentioning the four creatures who came from God, we are told that they are “like burning coals of fire.” This symbolizes the results of their work as they serve God and take the witness of Christ to the world, God’s Word will purge hearts of their sin. When people are touched by the truth and they turn from their sins, those sins get purged from their lives.

Light and lightening are also mentioned as being with the four creatures. All of this light has to do with the truth that God’s witnesses bring. The only way that anyone can be enlightened is through the truth of God’s Word. Without the Word of God, the world is in darkness. God has provided a solution to the darkness: bring in the Light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” To be a person from God, you must b ring the Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 1:15-21, “Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.[16] The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.[17] When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.[18] As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.[19] And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.[20] Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.[21] When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” There were four wheels, and there was a wheel within every wheel. The wheels were turning, constantly turning. The work of God is going forth, constantly going forth. God’s work never stops. God uses all things at all times to do His work. His work is the spreading of the Gospel of Christ, and the working in the hearts of men and women and boys and girls so that they will turn to Jesus and serve Him before it is too late. To human beings the wheels of God may seem to move slowly, but they move ever so finely. “Glory, glory, hallelujah, his truth is marching on.”

Wherever the four creatures went, the wheels went. God goes with us wherever we go. The spirit is mentioned several times in this passage. For example, it says in verse 20, “for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” The work of God can only be done by the power of the Spirit. Thank God that each believer has been given the Holy Spirit to guide us, to enlighten us, and to empower us. In the age of the New Testament Jesus made this clear when He said after the resurrection, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” Jesus gave to every believer the Holy Spirit. Since you were given the Holy Spirit when you believed in Jesus, make sure you allow the Holy Spirit to fill you. That means to control you and guide you. Do not say “no” to the Spirit.

Ezekiel 1:18 mentions rings that were so high, they were “dreadful.” That means “fearful.” And the rings were “full of eyes.” Being high up and being full of eyes means that they could see everything. Of course, God sees everything. He knows everything. We can trust in the Lord concerning past, present, and future. We do not know, but He knows. We do not know why certain things happen, but He knows. He sees and He knows. That thought should comfort us and give us confidence in Him and how He chooses to guide our lives.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 1:22-25, “And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.[23] And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.[24] And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.[25] And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.” The key phrase in verse 22 is “over their heads above.” That symbolizes the fact that God is over us. We serve Him, not ourselves. Again Ezekiel talks about the wings of the four creatures. Verse 23 is the second time that we are told that the wings covered their bodies. This is an image of modesty. Christians should be modestly dressed and know how to take care of their own bodies in this world where immorality and immodesty is sometimes prevalent. If you want to be a testimony for Christ, then be different from the world wherever it is necessary to be different. “Be ye not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Ezekiel 1:24 starts talking about speech: “the noise of great waters,” “the voice of the Almighty,” “the voice of speech,” and the noise of an host.“ God has spoken, and He continues to speak through His Word. It is interesting that the Apostle John said about Jesus in Revelation 1:15, “And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” The greatest authority in the world is the authority of God’s Word, which is the power of truth. When Christian’s walk in fellowship with Christ, and speak forth the Word of God, they speak with the power and authority of God behind them.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 1:26-28, “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.[27] And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.[28] As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” Ezekiel saw a throne. That was the throne of God. On the throne he saw “the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.” That was Jesus on the throne of God, because Jesus is God. Jesus is the God-man. Man was created in the image of God. We have intellect, emotion, and will just like God does. And then when Jesus came into the world, He was born of a woman, and lived the life of a man from birth until death. How much God loves human beings and wants to communicate with us.

Verse 27 mentions the color of amber and fire when it describes Jesus and God’s throne. All of this fire represents God’s judgment. Jesus will judge the world and everyone in it. This is the reason to be saved. You cannot stand before God still in your sins. You need the Savior. If you do not have a Savior, you will go from the fire of God’s judgment to the fires of hell.

After Ezekiel saw the fire, in verse 28 Ezekiel saw a rainbow. A rainbow is one of the beautiful objects in nature with all of its brilliant colors and the way it can stretch across the heavens. It is interesting that there is a rainbow in heaven. I imagine that it is much more beautiful than the ones we see. The first time there was a rainbow on the earth was after the great flood and God told Noah in Genesis 9:15-16, “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.[16] And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

At the end of Ezekiel 1:28 God spoke to Ezekiel, and chapter 2 tells us what God said. The Bible says in verses 1-4, “And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.[2] And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.[3] And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.[4] For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.” Jesus called Ezekiel “Son of man.” Obviously, the Lord liked this term because He used it for Himself. The term “Son of man” is a reminder of your connection to the human race. In Jesus’ case it was used because Jesus came to die for the sins of the world. Jesus identified Himself with people to the greatest degree by taking our sins upon Him. Even though Ezekiel saw a vision of God on the throne, God wanted Ezekiel to remember that Ezekiel’s calling had everything to do with people. We want to see souls saved, and we want to see Christians strengthened so that they can fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. God loves people. He loves everyone, and He wants us to learn to love them too.

Ezekiel was told, “Stand upon thy feet.” This indicates that God had something for Ezekiel to do and a place for Ezekiel to go. No since sitting down or laying down. Jesus told His disciples, “Go ye into all the world…” The question that you must always ask the Lord is this: where do you want me to go and what do you want me to do? God told Ezekiel, “I will speak unto thee.” In order to know what the Lord wants you to do, you must hear from Him. The Lord speaks in a still, small voice. You must listen carefully and seek to hear Him. The Lord speaks through His Word. You must read and hear the Word of God. You must make it a part of you life. That is why Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” God did not say that maybe He would speak to Ezekiel. God said, “I will speak unto thee.”

In verse 1 God told Ezekiel to stand upon his feet. Evidently, Ezekiel did not do it. Maybe Ezekiel was so much in awe still from the vision that he was seeing that he just could not stand up. I believe in doing everything that you can do with your own arms and legs in serving God, but it is interesting to notice that Ezekiel says in verse 2 God “set me upon my feet.” God did for Ezekiel what Ezekiel could not or would not do for himself. We have a Savior that we can rely upon. God had work for Ezekiel to do, and God wanted Ezekiel to go at it. There was no time to waste. Life is short. Jesus said, “I must work the works of God while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.”

What did God want Ezekiel to do? God said, “Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel.” God wanted Ezekiel to take the message from God to the people of Israel. God teaches you so that you can teach others. God wants to reach everyone because He loves everyone. Jesus wants to use you in His work to reach others. But because God also gives everyone a free choice, there is no guarantee of how you will be received. If the sower plants the seed on bad ground, nothing will grow. It is not the sower’s fault. You might have the message from God and His Word, you might have the leading and the power of the Spirit, but if all the people have hardened their hearts, then you will see what Ezekiel saw. God prepared Ezekiel for this possibility, and so God said in Ezekiel 2:3-4, “Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.[4] For they are impudent children and stiffhearted.” Even though sometimes people are this way, it pleases God that at least someone will preach His Word and tell the truth. God told Ezekiel, “thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.” Do not be like the children of Israel. Do not let your heart be hardened. Take advantage of your great opportunity to turn to the Lord. Trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sins today.

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