Ezekiel 1:15-21 – God is with us

In the vision of the four living creatures, the Prophet Ezekiel also saw four wheels one each beside each of the living creatures. Obviously, these were the wheels of the chariot that the living creatures were bearing. Ezekiel 1:15-21 then proceeds to describe the uniqueness of the wheels. Each wheel was said to sparkle brilliantly like topaz. Every wheel looked as if it had another within it, intersecting it at a right angle. To be exact, these four wheels were more like four castors that could swivel to enable easy mobility and instant maneuvering. These wheels enabled the chariots to move in any direction anytime without having to turn around. In verse 18 we are told that the rims of the wheels were awesome and full of eyes all around. As the easy mobility of the wheels indicates the “everywhere-presence” of divinity, the rims full of eyes speak of His “all-seeing” ability. God is not only omnipresent but also omniscient.    

Verses 19-21 tell us that the movement of the wheels was synchronized with the movement of the four living creatures. Whenever the four living creatures moved, the wheels would follow. Like the creatures, the wheels were apparently controlled by the spirit. This spirit we surmise could be none other than the Spirit of God.  These symbo0ls indicate that though they were far away from home, they were not far away from God, whose presence was with them.

The wings of the living creatures and the wheels of the chariots are symbols of the mobility of God’s throne. These symbols are important to this book and to us, to know that we do not have a nonchalant God who is seated on high unconcerned about His people’s plight. Besides God cannot be confined to only a particular locale. As he was with them in Jerusalem, He was also with the exiles in their captivity. For us, we need to know to be assured that God is everywhere present and sees everything. Wherever we are, whatever we are experiencing, and whenever we need Him, He is available. All we need is to build on the relationship with have with Him and be sure to be walking and living in His will and purpose.