[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 1
“I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surround him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a raining day, so was the radiance around him” (Ezekiel 1:27-28)
Ezekiel means “God is strong” Ezekiel was born in 623 B.C. to a priestly family and was among the exile in Babylon in 597 B.C. In 593 B.C., God called him to be a prophet in a divine revelation. While Jeremiah was ministering to the people in Judyh, Ezekiel was ministering to the exiles in Babylon. He proclaimed a new message of hope and restoration that God would gather them from the ends of the earth to their own land and those nations that captured them would be defeated and judged.
VISIONS FROM GOD:
A. God is in control (vs. 1-21) – He saw living creatures with the face of a man, lion, ox, eagle and with eyes following the direction of wheels.
B. God is on the throne (vs. 22-27) – He heard a voice from above the expanse with a name on the throne of sapphire. He looked like fire with brilliant light surrounded him.
C. God is merciful (v. 28) – He saw a rainbow in the clouds on a raining day with the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Rainbow signifies God’s grace of of his presence during storm.
The visions of God to Ezekiel showed us God’s providence, God’s glory and God’s grace. When we are experiencing difficult moments, trust God for He is in control of everything. When we see evil and wickedness triumph on earth, look high above, for He is still on the throne. When storms strike us, remember the rainbow, for God assures to be with us and He will never forsake us.[:]