Back to Ezekiel’s initial vision. One of the characteristics of the being “with the likeness of four living creatures” (Ex 1:5) is that it was mobile.
“Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two cover their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went (Ez 1:11–12).”
And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from hearth, the wheel rose. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went…When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels (Ez 1:19–21).
I know, it’s bizarre. What do we make of this? More importantly, how do we interpret this?
The first step to interpreting this (or any text) is being mindful of the historical and socio-political context of the author. Ezekiel is writing as one among those going into exile. The people of Judah are going into exile because of their disobedience to the Torah which was (and is) the stipulations of the covenant between God (Israel’s patron deity) and the family of Israel (Heb. bnê isra’el). The Torah explains that God’s people only maintain their status as God’s people when they adhere to the law of the covenant (the law code of the Torah found mostly in Exodus–Deuteronomy). Paired with this was the condition that they could only live in the land of Israel (note that it’s not Israel’s land, but God’s land that he gifted to Israel) if they were obedient to the Torah.
Linked up with Torah obedience was the powerful presence of God via the mercy seat in the temple. In teaching the lesson of monotheism among a polytheistic world, God insisted that there only be ONE PLACE OF WORSHIP. This singular location for Yahweh worship was to be an object lesson that teaches the oneness of God (see Deut 6:4).
This was a crucial lesson for Israel. This is also why the Scriptures make such a big deal out of the “high places”. Having high places (i.e., other temples for worship, whether designate for Yahweh worship or not) was a direct violation of the covenant stipulations. God was insistent that He Is One.
Israel also understood that their political and religious stability as a small nation among giants was do to God’s powerful protecting presence. It was not by human might and power that Israel’s longevity would be secured, it was by their strict obedience to their patron deity (a great lesson for us today).
The fact that they were now going into exile means that God’s protecting presence has left them. If Babylon was able to sack Jerusalem, then God must have left them. There was no other explanation. At the same time, God left them because of their violation of Torah stipulations (which is why second temple Judaism saw the rise of Rabbis and synagogues as places for teaching the Torah—to ensure Torah observance so as to avoid another exile).
The bottom-line is that as the exiles, including Ezekiel, are marched off to exile, they are plagued with the thought that God has abandoned them. God’s presence was to be found in Israel, the designated place for worship, and no where else.
In this context we find Ezekiel’s vision. In his vision, the beings represent God’s powerful presence, but in a totally new way; it is mobile. The point: God will be going with them into exile.
This is a powerful message for Israel and for us today.
We have the tendency to believe that a certain amount of sin or shame will cut us off from being in God’s powerful, comforting, and protecting presence. The reality is that God goes with us. At any moment, among our willingness to admit wrong doing and repent, God is with us. God does not abandon his people thereby cutting them off from his precious presence.
Now certainly, scripture teaches that there will be a time of judgment where this option is no longer available, but during this age of waiting on Christ’s return in this life, God goes with us, waiting for our repentance. No on, NO ONE is too far gone. Even Saul of Tarsus, the church’s greatest persecutor, was within reach.
Our God is a mobile God that goes with his people, assuring his people of his presence, even in the midst of shame and challenge.
