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Bible Study – Things unseen: The glory of God
Todd Conner ’12, Chemistry
Jessica Baughman ’12, Environmental Management, Biology
The Bible at a glance: Ezekiel 1:4-28
The world is full of remarkable things, like a woodpecker that can peck a tree 20 times a second. The reason they do not injure themselves is because of a spongy area behind their beak that acts as a shock absorber. Another example is the monarch butterfly, which can detect its mate’s scent about five miles away.
There are also things just as remarkable we cannot see, like the three billion DNA base pairs in a complete genome that can fit inside a cell’s nucleus or the billion neurons in our spinal cord that control body movement.
These things we know through scientific inquiry, but are there other things that can’t be observed or fully known by mankind? In the Old Testament, the prophet Ezekiel is shown things that would blow our minds. Imagine seeing the most terrifying storm you’ve ever seen, with some fire thrown into the middle of it – a chaotic masterpiece.
Now imagine four creatures moving around freely in this storm. Not only are they untouched by the flames, but they don’t look like any animals alive today. They each have four wings, the legs of a calf, and four faces: an eagle, a lion, a man, and an ox. Sounds bizarre right? Those OT visions can be pretty out there.
Like in most of these visions, the described events are symbolic and have deeper meaning below the surface. The different animals represent different attributes of God. The face of the man, which also represents the tribe of Reuben in Israel, represents the fact that man is made in the image of God. The lion, the symbol of the tribe of Judah, shows the majesty and power of God.
The ox, the symbol of the tribe of Ephraim, represents the sacrifice made to God for the atonement of sins. The eagle, the symbol of the tribe of Dan, shows the sovereignty and divinity of God.
In verse 15, the prophet sees wheels next to these immaculate creatures. As the wheels move around, so do the creatures. The wheels sparkle like a finely cut diamond and glisten like a prism as the light from the flames go through the wheels. These wheels represent the glory of God. Since the creatures follow the wheels wherever they go, they are actually going wherever God goes and are His accompaniment. When the creatures aren’t following the glory of God, they lower their wings in respect and adoration of their creator.
Ezekiel then goes on to further describe the glory of God, depicting it as bright, beautiful, sparkling, and so overwhelming that Ezekiel falls down when he sees it. Ezekiel sees a man-like figure with a torso, head and arms as red as hot metal.
His lower body is engulfed in flames, yet nothing is being consumed. Both Hebrews 12:29 and Deuteronomy 4:24 describe God as a “consuming fire.”
We see all that is around us, but do we really know about everything out there? Ezekiel was privileged to see the creatures and the likeness of God’s glory.
These creatures are so strange they are almost impossible to imagine. What must something like this look like?
How tremendous it must have been to see something like this, to be able to enter a realm which cannot normally be seen. Ezekiel had the opportunity to see creatures that divinely display the qualities of God and His glory.
These creatures were not just a vision given to Ezekiel. They also appear to John in Revelation, where they are seen praising God day and night as they protect His throne. They are singing “Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come.”
These creatures seem to exist only to sing praise to God and glorify His name. They existed in the time of Ezekiel and in the future; this must mean that they also exist in the present, that even now they are before God’s throne, praising him.
There is so much out there that we as human beings cannot comprehend or even begin to understand until we stand before God. There are many things that exist outside of our knowledge and vision – they exist only for the glory of God.
Our existence in this world is minute compared to God’s vastness. Understanding this can give profound perspective on our lives and what a small role we have to play. Our existence is for a moment, and our significance is almost immeasurable.
We have the opportunity to do great things, but in the end, our lives are only a breath, regardless of how much we can or can’t accomplish.
In light of our insignificance before God’s glory, the importance of our calling to praise His name becomes clear. As Christians, we serve God and fight an enemy – Satan. One of Satan’s tools is to keep us focused on what’s right in front of us, instead of on what God has planned for us or His glory. Famed author C.S. Lewis, taking the perspective of a demon mentor, wrote in The Screwtape Letters, “[Humans] find it all but impossible to believe in the unfamiliar while the familiar is before their eyes.”
Satan wants us focused on the immediate, visible reality, so we spend all our time worrying about money, grades, careers, and relationships, easily forgetting the glory of God for all eternity.
To us, Jesus gave the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” In loving God, we give Him the glory He deserves, just like the angelic creatures did in Ezekiel’s vision.
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