Do you ever read Bible passages and just scratch your head in confusion? For most non-scholarly Bible readers, the book of Ezekiel is chock-full of kaleidoscopic visions that seem more like Star Wars than Scripture. After reading Ezekiel 1, can you imagine what fun Hollywood would have in creating their rendition of this scene? Even animatronics wizards might struggle to come up with a four-winged human being with four faces (that of a man, lion, ox and eagle)—on wheels, no less. God is, indeed, more creative than any human being’s imagination.
Why would God give this wild vision to Ezekiel?
The answer might have to do with inspiration. It seems that what enabled the prophet Ezekiel and his contemporaries to press on in their difficult ministries was a powerful, majestic vision of God. Ezekiel’s particular vision left an indelible impression: God was the absolute Sovereign over all of creation and history. The prophet would remember this one-of-a-kind experience and return to it all of his life.
Ezekiel could describe the cherubim in this vision with great detail. However, when he saw “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD,” he groped for words and ultimately could not respond. He could only fall facedown—awestruck by God’s holiness and glory.
Ezekiel, like most Biblical prophets, endured his share of shame and often appeared foolish to his contemporaries. He did not have a dream job . . . so he needed a vision. His visions of God sustained, encouraged, strengthened and directed him in an otherwise difficult and thankless task.
What is your vision of God? What keeps you staying with the job God has called you to do? Is your motivation based on who God has revealed himself to be? Whatever your task today, dare to ask the wild, holy, Sovereign God of Ezekiel to reveal his majesty to encourage and strengthen you.
Reflection
- Do you ever feel uninspired and unrewarded in your ministry, task or job?
- Where do you usually look for motivation?
- How has God revealed himself to you in a way that has strengthened and encouraged you?
Related Readings
Isaiah 6:1–13; Ezekiel 3:22–23; 8:1–4; 10:3–5; Acts 9:1–9; 2 Corinthians 12:2–6
