Observation: The Lord appears to Ezekiel to make him the prophet to the exiles, and his appearance - the manner and description of how he arrives - is confusing at best. Ezekiel describes it in a way that is both plain yet confusing, however there is also an interesting pattern to it, which is this ... what he perceives LAST is God.
In fact, here are the elements of the Lord's arrival, in the order in which Ezekiel seems to perceive them:
-- A windstorm
-- Thunder and lightening
-- Four human-like creatures with multiple faces and wings
-- The actual faces of the creatures
-- The configuration of the hands, legs, and wings of the creatures
-- Movement of the creatures in relation to each other
-- Fire that seems to shoot out from the creatures
-- Wheels that are associated with each creature
-- A unique configuration of the wheels that seems to make them nonfunctional
-- The fact the wheels have eyes on them
-- A 'vault' or platform being held up by the creatures and the wheels
-- A commanding voice that comes from the vault
-- A great throne sitting on the vault
-- A man sitting on this throne
That's right ... the Lord is coming to talk to Ezekiel, and is doing so by riding upon his very throne of heaven - and the part of heaven itself that he sits in - and Ezekiel's first observations are of a storm, then other human-hybrid-like creatures, then of strange wheels that seem to function oddly. One would think seeing the Lord ... on his throne ... commanding creation ... in heaven ... would be the order he would see this. It's as if he takes in and processes the entire event exactly backwards.
Application: There is an interesting idea here about how we all receive, perceive, and process God in our lives, which is that we tend to begin with items that are familiar, and which our brain can handle. This is actually true of how we are created, and how we think and problem-solve ... we begin with known concepts and extrapolate into new ideas and concepts from there.
Ezekiel demonstrates this perfectly. He understands ... desert storms, the human form, animal faces and wings, and the movement of wheeled vehicles like carts. From there he processes and analyzes elements of the 'known' that are strange, like the hybrid combination of the creatures, and the configuration of the wheels within each other. Then, finally, he can move into that which is completely knew and difficult to fathom, like the expanse of heaven's throne room, and the Lord sitting in all his glory on the throne.
How does that inform the way I can perceive the Lord's work, movement, and instructions in my life? It likely should tell me that, when the Lord gives me information, I am most likely to understand first at a very basic level, interpreting it in a way that fits with my knowledge and experience. However, it also means I shouldn't stop there because there is likely more to it, and I need to continue to search and examine the experience.
Of course, the Lord isn't arriving here in Bothell with the throne room of heaven carried on his holy chariot. He likely is barely whispering into my ear, while expecting me to remain more and more invested in meditating on his words and precepts in the bible. However, as I listen and do that, I should take the time to consider and meditate deeper ... to find the parts of his word that don't necessarily fit immediately into my experiences and knowledge and understanding. It is likely in the new and the unknown where I will see the Lord, who was actually there all the time just waiting for me to look up a little higher.
Prayer: Lord, may I find more and more time in my day to meditate on your word, seeking you as I consider you deeper, and thus have less and less time to spend on worthless and idle thoughts and actions. Amen.
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