Scripture Daily

Context No. 4109 of 4322 · Ezekiel

Context · Reflection

Ezekiel 1:15-21: in context

15Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it. 16The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl. The four of them had one likeness. Their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17When they went, they went in their four directions. They didn’t turn when they went. 18As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around. 19When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them. When the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20Wherever the spirit was to go, they went. The spirit was to go there. The wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21When those went, these went. When those stood, these stood. When those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

In Ezekiel's vision of God's glory, he sees an astonishing sight: wheels, gleaming like beryl, a wheel within a wheel, their rims full of eyes all around, moving in perfect coordination with the living creatures, going wherever the Spirit went. It is a strange and awe-inspiring picture, and though its full meaning is beyond us, two things shine through.

The wheels were full of eyes, all around. This speaks of God's all-seeing knowledge; nothing is hidden from him; he sees in every direction, everywhere at once. And the wheels went wherever the Spirit went, moving freely in any direction. This speaks of God's freedom and mobility; his presence and governance are not fixed in one place but reach everywhere, moving where he wills. There is both awe and comfort here. We serve a God who sees all, from whom nothing can be hidden. And we serve a God who is not confined or localized, whose presence and power move freely throughout all creation, wherever his Spirit directs.

Do I stand in awe of the God whose eyes are everywhere and from whom nothing is hidden, whose presence and power move freely throughout all creation, far greater than my small imaginings of him?

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