Ezekiel 1:4

And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with a fire infolding itself, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst thereof as it were glorying metal, out of the midst of the fire. And out of the midst thereof there came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man; and every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings, and their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their four wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. And as for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; and they four had also the face of an eagle. And their faces and their wings were separate above; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straight forward, whither the spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches; the fire went up and down among the living creatures; the fire was bright; and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning."

This, of course, is the first part of the great vision of the glory of God. We fully agree with Howie that, "A detailed discussion of the vision is not necessary or vital to the understanding of its meaning."[7] We are certain that Ezekiel reported to us what he saw; but, even so, there is no way that any fully accurate picture of this remarkable vision is conceivable on the part of any person whomsoever.

The omnipotence, ubiquitousness, omniscience, and all of the other attributes of Deity are suggested and symbolized by this vision. The infinite energy, speed, intelligence, and abilities of the Almighty God appear here as in a flash of lightning, instantly, overwhelmingly, unfathomable, and awe-inspiring.

Feinberg reports that the Jewish rabbis gave this comment on the four living creatures:

"Man is exalted among creatures; the eagle is exalted among birds; the ox is exalted among domestic animals; and the lion is exalted among wild beasts. All of these have received dominion, and greatness has been given to them; yet they are stationed below the chariot of the Holy One."[8]

Another interpretation of the four living creatures is that, "They are representative of the four corners of the earth,"[9] and of the sovereignty of God over all things. Also, the four living creatures have been likened unto the four gospels in Christian theology. The apostle John's Apocalypse also has this element of the four living creatures associated with God's throne.

Such things as the burning coals of fire, glorying metal as in the furnace, and the fire running up and down among the living creatures suggests the utter purity of God and the necessity of his punishing sin.

Three times in this chapter it is stated that "they turned not when they went." With four faces each, any direction in which they moved would have been straight ahead! The ability of this mobile bearer of the throne of God to move in any direction instantly is suggested by the expression "flash of lightning" in Ezekiel 1:14.

Some scholars have tried to find the origin of some of Ezekiel's terminology here in the things he might have seen in Babylon, such as the storm cloud; but we like what Eichrodt said of this:

"Ezekiel's description is not the result of a calculated piece of construction, such as is attributed to him in many commentaries. Such a pedestrian type of criticism is utterly blind to the freedom with which this picture (of Ezekiel's) makes use of traditional ideas, and how tremendously impressive spiritual content is provided with the form that best suits it."[10]

Each of the four living creatures facing in all directions suggests that, "All parts of the universe alike are open to the gaze of God."[11]

All of the first part of this remarkably complicated vision reveals nothing of the Divine Person whose glory is being symbolized; and only when we come to Ezekiel 1:26 is the likeness of the Holy One mentioned.

We cannot but be conscious here that Ezekiel is describing the indescribable, hence the continual use of such expressions as "likeness of" and "as it were," a usage that continues to the very end of the description. Human language is simply inadequate for the conveyance of the intriguing mystery revealed to Ezekiel in this vision of the glory of God.