Question: I do not know if I am at the right place to ask this question and help me to understand this Bible chapter. As I was reading the Bible, the book of Ezekiel, chapter 1, I could not understand. Please explain what you think is the outcome of this chapter.

Thank you for your help in helping me to understand God more.

God bless you!

Ajay

Answer: Dear Ajay,

Ezekiel, chapter 1, describes a vision given to Ezekiel that was an experience, based primarily in sight and sound, not in speech. The vision begins in physical reality and then transcends human time and space limitations.

To inquire too closely into specific meaning of the symbolism present in this vision may be to miss the point. The basic point of this vision is to help humans understand that the power, majesty, sovereignty, wonder, and mystery of the triune God is beyond human comprehension, so much so that we would be stunned and overwhelmed by the dimension of his power and might.

Scholars point out that at least three things can be learned from this vision:

1. The nature of God. God is ultimately beyond our comprehension. God is beyond all of our abilities to grasp his reality, which is why the second commandment stipulates that humans should not attempt to make images of God, for all images will fall woefully short, and will fail to convey his majesty.
2. God’s brightness is like a rainbow to Ezekiel. God knew that this would remind Ezekiel of the covenant God made with Noah. Ezekiel was an exile when he received this vision, and the vision gave Ezekiel the insight that God was committed not just to the nation of Israel (the covenant at Sinai) but to all mankind (the covenant with Noah). For Christians this has great significance, for we know that God is the God of all humanity, and that in Christ we are made one (see Ephesians 2 and Galatians 2).
3. The geography of the vision. For the Jews, and Ezekiel, the presence of God was limited to the temple in Jerusalem. But Ezekiel was in exile, by an irrigation canal (the Chebar Canal) in Babylon. For Ezekiel to receive such a powerful insight into the reality and presence of God in an alien geographical location is meaningful, for being in Babylon was in essence, for the Jew, to be cut off from God. But there is no geographical location where we are cut off from God. Paul tells us this in Romans 8:38-39.