"THE VISION OF THE WHEELS"
EZEKIEL 1:1 24
Intro The most neglected and difficult prophetic book (subject matter, imagery, symbol system) READ v. 1 14
Before we go any further I'd like to take a look at this man and what brought about his extraordinary life and message. Ezekiel grew up in Jerusalem where his father served as a priest in the temple.
As the priesthood was a traditional office, passed from one generation to the next, it is likely that Ezekiel, in his early life, was educated for service as a priest.
He was born in very troublesome times in Judah's history. At the time he was born, Josiah's great reformation was being undertaken in Jerusalem, but by the time he was a young man the survival of Jerusalem and Judah was in grave doubt.
When Ezekiel was about 26 years old Jerusalem was attacked and defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian emperor. The city itself survived, but many of it's leading families and citizens were deported to Babylon...including Ezekiel.
This young man who was trained for service as a priest found himself in an alien land where there was no temple of his faith. He lived with other exiles in a settlement called Tel Abib not far from the great city of Babylon.
It was there, just a few years later, that he was called to serve in the role of prophet. He was about 30 yrs. old when he received his call and his ministry continued for at least 20 years.
Ezekiel's call and commissioning as a prophet are set in the context of a visionary experience, and vision was to play an important part of his ministry.
This was a man of many talents...he could preach a conventional sermon but could also tell a story or parable to illustrate his message. He was a rational man yet he didn't hesitate to tell in glorious detail the fantastic substance of his visions.
The prophet is very exact in recording what he saw in his visions, and unless we are able to be sensitive to the symbols and imagery in our reading of this account we will miss much of the power of this fantastic book.
He lived and ministered during critical years and the crises of the time raised for many people the most fundamental questions of life and religion.
For example, did God's punishment of evil mean that there was no hope for the future? For those in exile, there seemed to be little foundation on which to build hope. It seemed like the end of all they had believed.
Ezekiel was a man whose message was one that combined judgment and hope. On the one hand, he was a man gripped by a profound sense of God's holiness, brought about by his visionary experience with God.
Such a holy God could not ignore man's evil...and the abandonment of responsibility...and refusal to love. As Ezekiel saw it God had to act in judgment.
But Ezekiel's vision of God's holiness is balanced by his perception of divine mercy and love. The loving kindness of God and the capacity for forgiveness could never be exhausted...so there must be hope ... regardless of the situation that surrounds.
To those who held on to a hollow and false hope in tough times, the prophet felt compelled to announce judgment and to completely annihilate every hope and aspiration they had.
But to those who eventually reached the point of despair brought on by the things that were happening all around them, Ezekiel had a message of hope.
It was not a message that could be established for them strictly by an experience alone, but one which required of his people faith in the ultimate purpose of God, not only for them but for the world.
Just what was the promise that Ezekiel had for the people? It was the most quoted promise in the Bible...that of God's presence. Presence is the most important thing in time of need...more than words of advice or even well intentioned thoughts.
When I went through the most trying time in my life, it was the presence of a friend that made the difference. That friend said very little, but from their presence I drew strength and encouragement and in the end victory.
But so many times when someone is going through a tough situation we stay away because we don't know what to say...when the best thing we could do is just be there and !not„Ç say anything.
(i.e. not attending funeral because of not knowing what to say...but just being there is what counts most...[Job] )
Most of us know from personal experience just how hard it is to recognize God's presence when really tough, trying times hit...moments when you feel so alone...even though there are many people around you. "Where are you God?"
This is how Ezekiel felt. He was priest and prophet...He was accustomed to the presence of God. He preached, led worship, and taught the Scriptures.
Now they were taken captive...and the temple was destroyed. Life for Ezekiel would never be the same. He asked the ?'s Where are you? Is your presence limited to the temple? Now that we are in Babylon, where are you?
Well, God broke through with word and vision...obscure and difficult to understand for us, but yet so simple.
God answers these ?'s in ch. 1
v. 1 3 All the particulars...yr, day, month [563]...and then he gives the reason for the importance of that date... He said the heavens were opened...and I saw visions of God.
Here was a man who knew all about God, but now he saw a vision of God and from that moment on he was never the same. The Bible says that no man can see God and live, but many have seen visions of God...which are displays of divine glory that both instructed and greatly affected them...Isaiah, Jeremiah, even Abraham are examples of this.
The Word of the Lord came specifically to him, and what he saw was designed to prepare him for what he was to hear. Ezekiel felt the power of God opening his eyes to see the visions...opening his ears to hear the voice...and opening his heart to receive both.
v. 4 wind fire...and if anything stuck over the last 13 weeks of our study in Acts, you'll know that these are manifestations of the presence of God.
v. 5 14 creatures...This is definitely strange...Just what is the story behind these bizarre mutations? Well actually, the creatures represent Babylonian idols...but idols who are now under the control of God.
Much like the plagues of Egypt, they are to show that God !is„Ç in control. God is making a statement here...saying that the things foolish people rely on are nothing except in the hands of God.
v. 22 25 (READ) more of this awesome vision...sounds like revelation
Sandwiched in between these sights are the visions of the wheels...and this is the heart of what I want to share with you this morning. (READ v. 15 21)
When looking at this passage of Scripture the emphasis is usually upon detailed description...this misses the mark. The meaning is actually quite simple and yet so important...not only for Ezekiel and his people way back then, but also for us today.
The wheels are the chariot of the Lord. It symbolizes the mobility of the Lord...that His presence is real in every arena and place of life.
The main point is that God is not restricted to any place...He cannot be confined...His presence can be found even in Babylon.
You see, Ezekiel's God was too small. So God revealed to him that His Spirit or presence was not tied to the Holy Land.
Ezekiel was a priest...his whole existence was wrapped up in the temple. But now God had to move him...he was called to leave the comfort and security of home.
Ezekiel, as well as all the Hebrews, knew God was everywhere...when things were fine. But now they were in exile in a foreign land. It's alot different to !know„Ç this when we're going through the fire.
When things are going along fine for us, and someone comes along who is experiencing very difficult times it's easy for us to say that God is there with them and has everything under control...but what about when we are the ones who wonder where God is?
Let's look over to chapter 10:18 19 (READ) Here we see that the wheels are going somewhere
Now look at Chapter 11:22 24 (READ)
The glory went up and departed eastward. Why?? Because that is where Babylon is...where God's people were. God is giving us a most important truth through these verses that seem so obscure.
God His presence will be with His people...Everywhere! Ups and downs, good and bad times, joy and pain, work and play. His love and His mercy are boundless.
There is no compartmentalization w/ God. God's presence does not reside in a building...He's not limited to certain geographical areas.
He's not even limited by our disobedience, as we see with the rebellious nation of Israel.
Ezekiel 37 "I will settle my sanctuary among them forever. I am with you says the Lord."
The question I have for you this morning is the same as that posed to God's people 2500 years ago...Is your God too small? Is it tough to recognize Him when things are tough? When the kids are fighting (over who breathed on who)...up to your knees in diapers...disagree w/ spouse etc.
Some are experiencing trials that go far beyond the "normal" demands of life in our day...some of you are feeling the same sense of desperation the exiles felt, when it seemed like the whole world is falling apart.
The experience of God's presence came in Babylon. They thought they were cut off from His presence...but there is no place where His presence is not.
Paul: "I am sure that neither death nor life...."
Where is your Babylon...the place you least expect God to be...
"Even if you make your bed in Hades...He is there. Maybe not to give you all the answers...but just the realization that He is there will give us light.
And as we respond to that light, He'll give us a greater revelation of Himself until we have such an overwhelming sense of His presence within us that we'll not be able to contain it.
In John 17 Jesus prayer was not that God would take us out of all the problems and situations we'll face...but that He would be with us through them.
It is really a matter of trust. Do we trust Him to keep His promises? If we do, and if we'll follow where He leads we'll walk out victorious no matter what the struggle may be.
If your God has been to small, I encourage you to come to the altar and meet the God who is big enough to see you through the most difficult struggles of life. He's here for you...come as we pray.
