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1. During WW II 6 Navy pilots left their aircraft carrier on a mission. After searching the seas for every submarine, they tried to return to their ship shortly after dark. But the captain had ordered a blackout of all lights on the ship. Over and over the frantic pilots radioed, asking for just one light so they could see to land. But the request was denied and the pilots were forced to crash into the Ocean.
2. Israel felt like those pilots, even though their captivity was due to their sins, they felt abandoned by God.
3. God Chastises but he never Abandons.
Trans: Ezk. 1:1-28
I. FIRST, THE CAPTIVES.
A. A Priest named Ezekiel.
“1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, 3 the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.” (Ezek 1:1-3)
“in the thirtieth year” – Most believe that this refers to the 30th year Ezekiel’s life. Being of the priestly family, he was no doubt studying, preparing for the priesthood. All of a sudden all of his plans, dreams, and aspirations came to an end as he was taken into captivity by the Babylonians.
thirtieth year -- that is, counting from the beginning of the reign of Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar, the era. of the Babylonian empire, 625 B.C., which epoch coincides with the eighteenth year of Josiah, that in which the book of the law was found, and the consequent reformation began [SCALIGER]; or the thirtieth year of Ezekiel's life. As the Lord was about to be a "little sanctuary" (Eze 11:16) to the exiles on the Chebar, so Ezekiel was to be the ministering priest; therefore he marks his priestly relation to God and the people at the outset; the close, which describes the future temple, thus answering to the beginning. By designating himself expressly as "the priest" (Eze 1:3), and as having reached his thirtieth year (the regular year of priests commencing their office), he marks his office as the priest among the prophets. Thus the opening vision follows naturally as the formal institution of that spiritual temple in which he was to minister [FAIRBAIRN].
The fourth (month) was mid-June to mid-July, reckoning from the first month, mid-March to mid-April.
B. The Predicament.
“captives” – “During Ezekiel’s life and ministry. Israel [the Northern Kingdom] was corrupt politically and spiritually. Their idolatry led to captivity by the Assyrians in 722 BC.
The leadership of Judah [the Southern Kingdom] eventually fell into the idolatry of neighboring nations. The people refused to heed the prophets reminders about the curses and blessings promised by God in the Mosaic Covenant. Ezekiel prophesied that there would come catastrophe and captivity for Judah and Jerusalem.”
“In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar smashed through the Egyptian defenses at Carchemish and pursued the fleeing forces to the very borders of Egypt. King Jehoiakim thus willingly gave allegiance to serve as a vassal king for Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1). Nebuchadnezzar solidified his rule over this newly acquired territory by appointing kings and taking “hostages” to assure continued loyalty. During this first campaign Daniel was taken captive to Babylon. Later Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylon, but by December 598 Nebuchadnezzar’s army took Jerusalem, during this attack Jehoiakim died and his son Jehoiachin was placed on the throne. Seeing the folly of opposing Babylon he surrendered in March 597.
Jehoiachin after a three month reign was deported to Babylon and his uncle Zedekiah was placed on the throne as a vassal king. It was this deportation of Jehoiachin along with 10,000 others that Ezekiel was taken to a settlement by the River Chebar.
Zedekiah was weak and vacillating and mistakenly revolted against Babylon as a result the Babylonian army surround Jerusalem and in July-Aug 586 BC., destroyed the city.”
[Dyer]
C. The Placement.
“by the river Chebar” - A river of Mesopotamia Ezek 1:1;Ezek 1:3;Ezek 3:15Ezek 3:23; Ezek 10:15; Ezek 10:22; Ezek 43:3.
“The Chebar river was a man-made canal used for irrigation. This canal brought water from the Euphrates River for use in agricultural irrigation.”
“Ezekiel minister in Babylon, at Tel Abib near the Chebar River. This is southeaster section of modern Iraq, northwest of the Persian Gulf. The Babylonians settled the Jewish exiles in this region to colonize them.” [Nelson Study Bible]
“By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. 3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song In a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! 6 If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth-- If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy. 7 Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, "Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!" 8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us! 9 Happy the one who takes and dashes Your little ones against the rock!” (Psalms 137:1-9)
D. The Puzzlement. V. 1
“I saw visions of God” – He sees a vision of the glory of God.
Tozer, “When the Spirit would acquaint us with something that lies beyond the field of our knowledge, He tells us that this thing is like something we already know…For example when the prophet Ezekiel saw heaven opened and beheld visions of God, he found himself looking at that which he had no language to describe. What he was seeing was wholly different from anything he had ever known before, so he fell back upon the language of resemblance.
“As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire” And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne as the appearance of a sapphire…Strange as this language is, it still does not create the impression of unreality. One gathers that the whole scene is very real but entirely alien to anything men know on earth. So, in order to convey an idea of what he sees, the prophet must employ such words as “likeness,” “appearance,” “as it were” and “the likeness of the appearance.” Even the throne becomes “the appearance of a throne” and He that sits upon it, though like a man, is so unlike one that He can be described only as “the likeness of the appearance of a man.”
E. The Prophet. 3
“the word of the Lord came” – a priest goes to God on behalf of the people; a prophet goes to the people with a message from God…
“the hand of the Lord was upon Him” – prophets were under God’s power and protective care.
“For Ezekiel, far removed from Jerusalem and the temple, the privilege of priestly service would have seemed a hopeless dream. But Yahweh has not forgotten him, nor His people.”
II. FURTHERMORE, THE CLOUD.
“4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.” (Ezek 1:4)
out of the north -- that is, from Chaldea, whose hostile forces would invade Judea from a northerly direction. The prophet conceives himself in the temple.
colour of amber -- rather, "the glancing brightness (literally, 'the eye', and so the glancing appearance) of polished brass. The Hebrew, chasmal, is from two roots, "smooth" and "brass" (compare Eze 1:7 Rev. 1:15) [GESENIUS].
“Breaking Ezekiel’s meditation at the river, an approaching storm cloud illuminated with intense lightening…The glory of God approached the exile. The Bible uses similar description of God’s presence of in such contexts as the gathering of Israel to Mount Sinai (Ex.19:16), the divine help for Deborah and Barak’s army against the Canaanites
(Jud. 5:4f) and the poetic images of divine deliverance of David from Saul (Psa.18:7-15).”
III. NEXT, THE CHERIBIM.
“Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. 8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. 9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. 12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.” (Ezek 1:5-14)
These are a class of angels called Cherubim.
“This is the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they were cherubim.” (Ezek 10:20)
“These angelic creatures were divinely appointed guardians of the holiness of God. Their mission was to prevent anything unholy form coming into the presence of a holy God…After the fall of Adam, cherubim were stationed at the entrance of the garden in Eden to guard against reentry by sinful humans into the presence of God (Gen. 3:22-24). Their likeness was embroidered on the curtain of the tabernacle to guard the holy of holies, their likeness was placed atop the ark bearing the tablets of covenant, and they affirmed God’s presence there (Ex. 25:18-22). In Ezekiel’s vision they are indicators of God’s presence and is concern for the exiles in Babylon.” [Cooper]
“CHERUB
Plural CHERUBIM, an order of celestial beings or symbolical representations often referred to in the Old Testament and in the book of Revelation. The cherubim are variously represented as living creatures, Ezekiel 1:1-28 Revelation 4:1-11; or as images wrought in tapestry, gold, or wood, Exodus 36:35; 37:7; Ezekiel 41:25; as having one, two, or four faces, Exodus 25:20; Ezekiel 10:14; 41:18; as having two, four, or six wings, 1 Kings 6:27; Ezekiel 1:6; Revelation 4:8; in the simplest form, as in the golden figures above the ark of the covenant; or in the most complex and sublime form, as in Ezekiel's wonderful visions of the glory of God-discerning and ruling all things, and executing irresistibly and with the speed of thought all his wise and just decrees, Ezekiel 1:1-28; 10:1-22. The fullest of these descriptions represents the cherub as a winged figure, like a man in form, full of eyes, and with a fourfold head-of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle-with wheels turning every way, and speed like the lightning; presenting the highest earthly forms and powers of creation in harmonious and perfect union, Ezekiel 1:1-28; 10:1-22; Revelation 1:4-11. Usually also the cherubim stand in a special nearness to God; they are engaged in the loftiest adoration and service, moving in instant accordance with his will, Psalm 18:10; Ezekiel 1:26; 10:20; Revelation 4:1-11; they are seen in the temple inseparably associated with the mercy-seat-made of the same mass of pure gold, Exodus 25:19, bending reverently over the place of God's presence, Psalm 99:1, where he met his people, Numbers 7:89, accepted the blood of atonement, Leviticus 16:14-16, and shone forth as their Savior, Psalm 80:1.”—A Dictionary of the Holy Bible
A. Likeness of a man. V.5
“Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.” (Ezek 1:5)
B. Four faces – vv. 6,8,10
Man, lion, ox, and eagle…
1. Some say it represents God’s perfect character.
Lion = strength; Ox = diligent service; Man = intelligence; Eagle = Divinity.
2. Some say it represents God’s whole creation.
“Humans are God-ordained rulers of creation – Lion = the lord of the wild kingdom;
Ox = the strongest of domesticated animals; Eagle = the chief among the flying creatures.”
3. Others say it represents the Four Gospels.
This was the view of the early church fathers. It would harmonize with Rev. 4:6-8 – in which both passages speak of “Four,” and “living,” full of eyes; both have “Lion, Ox, Man, and Eagle; and both have “wings.”
“ Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" (Rev 4:6-8)
Lion = Matthew who presents Christ as king; Ox = an animal of servitude, speaking of Mark, which presents Jesus as a servant; Man = Luke presents the humanity of Christ; and Eagle = on that soars in the heavens, John presents Jesus heavenly origin.
“I agree with those who identify each of these living creatures with the Gospel which it represents, and I believe this is accurate, although such an application is questioned a great deal.
"The first living creature was like a lion," and the first Gospel represents the Lord Jesus as the King. He was born a King, He lived a King, He died a King, He was raised a King, and He is coming again as a King. Everything He does in the Gospel of Matthew He does as the King. Remember that God said that the tribe of Judah was like a lion, that the King, the Ruler, would come from that tribe, and that the scepter would not depart from Judah until Shiloh came (see Gen. 49:9-10; Rev. 5:5).
"The second living creature like a calf [ox]." This is the beast of burden, the servant animal domesticated. In the Gospel of Mark, Christ is presented as the Servant. There is no genealogy given in this Gospel. If you hire someone to mow your lawn or to wash your dishes, you do not ask him who his papa and mama are. What difference does it make? You want to know whether or not he can do the job. The Gospel of Mark presents Christ as the Servant.
"The third living creature had a face as a man." The third Gospel, the Gospel of Luke, presents the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man. It is His humanity that is emphasized.
"The fourth living creature was like a flying eagle." He communicates the deity of Christ as seen in the Gospel of John.” —J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible
C. Their legs were straight with hoof of a calf. V.7
“Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze.” (Ezek 1:7)
MacArthur, “Straight like pillars, sowing strength; calves feet point to their stability and firm stance.”
straight feet -- that is, straight legs. Not protruding in any part as the legs of an ox, but straight like a man's [GROTIUS]. Or, like solid pillars; not bending, as man's, at the knee. They glided along, rather than walked. Their movements were all sure, right, and without effort [KITTO, Cyclopedia].
D. Under their wings such creatures had hands like a human. 8
“The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.” (Ezek 1:8)
Skillful service?
E. When they moved they went straight forward. 9, 12
Suggesting a sense of purpose, commitment, and availability for assignments?
F. They are winged. Vv. 8,9,11,23
Wings extended upward to support the platform and to praise God? Wings touched speaking of harmony?
G. The followed the Spirit in their movement. 12, 20
The Holy Spirit who was directing and enabling them?
H. Their appearance like burnished bronze…burning coals of fire. 7,13
Perhaps indicating their close relationship to God, like Moses who’s face shone after having been in God’s presence?
I. They moved like flash Gordon!
“And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.” (Ezek 1:14)
J. Wings made a loud noise.
“And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings.” (Ezek 1:23-25)
Trans: These creatures that represented Gods presence are beyond our ability to describe or fully comprehend.
IV. FOURTHLY, THE CHARIOT-THRONE.
“Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 17 When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went. 18 As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them. 19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22 The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” (Ezek 1:15-28a)
The idea is that of these Cherubim formed a throne chariot upon which the glory of God rode?
“And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind.” (Psalms 18:10)
“and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.” (1 Chron 28:18)
A. The Wheels. 15-21
“The wheels gave mobility to the chariot-throne of God. God appeared to Ezekiel in imagery of movement and action that presented him as both transcendent and immanent. The whole picture of the cherubim, the chariot, and the throne was associated intimately with an affirmation of the presence of God.”
’ôpan. Wheel. (KJV, ASV, and RSV render alike, "wheel.")
The noun for wheel, in the dual number, is attested in Ugaritic. Of the thirty-five references to wheel in the OT, twenty-five are found in the book of Ezekiel. The most frequent use of the term is in reference to the wheel of a chariot (Exodus 14:25; Nahum 3:2; Ezekiel 1:15ff.). The oldest wheels discovered are clay models of chariot wheels and parts of a potter's wheel (cf. Jeremiah 18:3) from the fourth millennium B.C. Early wheels were made from wooden planks joined together by pegs. Lighter wheels came into use around 1500 B.C., along with horses. This gave the Egyptians a decided military advantage. The wheel was also used in connection with Solomon's temple. There the bronze stands had small chariot wheels with axles, hubs, rims, and spokes (1 Kings 7:33). These wheels formed the bases of the temple's lavers. Both Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1, 10) and Daniel (Daniel 7:9) had visions of God's throne set on a platform with wheels. The celebrated wheels within wheels of Ezekiel I had axles set at ninety degree angles somewhat like a gyroscope, so that the platform could go at once in any of the four directions, without a steering mechanism. The whole picture symbolized the omnipresence of the Lord, and the rapidity with which he executes judgment in his rule of the earth. Wheels were employed with machinery for drawing water (cf. Eccles. 12:6, galgal). The rollers of a threshing wagon or cart are mentioned in Proverbs 20:26 and Isaiah 28:27. Later Hebrew commonly uses galgal as a synonym (q.v.) by metonymy for a wagon (Ezekiel 23:24).” —Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
“Each creature seems to have had an identical set of wheels. But the wheels themselves were extraordinary. First, like the creatures themselves, they were composite, for there appeared to be one wheel within another…speaking of their absolute ability to move everywhere, in all directions. One wheel within another enhances its capacity to move anywhere, without resistance.
Second the wheels were magnificent to behold. They glistened with the brilliance of beryl and their rims were awesome, full of eyes all around…the traditional view that the eyes symbolize the all-seeing and all-knowing character of God.
Third, the wheels impress the prophet for their movements are perfectly synchronized with those of the creatures. Also there is harmony between wheels and creatures is attributed to the spirit of life, the energizing power of God. It was this animating spirit that determined the direction and freedom of movement of the heavenly vehicle.”
B. The Platform.
“21 When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22 The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around.” (Ezek 1:21-27)
They appear to be holding up a platform over their heads, expanse = platform…
Ryrie, “Ezekiel saw a “platform over the heads of the living creatures dazzling like crystal [or ice].”
This is all similar to Ex. 24:20…
“and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.” (Ex 24:10)
C. The Throne. 26
“appearance of a man above it” – “Seated on this shinning blue throne was Someone who looked like a man, Ezekiel’s gaze was first to the upper part of His body and then to the lower part. Though Ezekiel could describe the cherubim in detail, all he could say of God was that He looked like glowing metal and fire. The splendor of His glory was so bright that Ezekiel could see only His form before he was forced to look down. The multisplendored colors of the rainbow were refracted from the blazing light of God’s glory.”
Who is this in appearance of a man? Jesus Christ?
“The Godhead appears in the likeness of enthroned humanity, as in Ex 24:10. Besides the "paved work of a sapphire stone, as it were the body of heaven in clearness," there, we have here the "throne," and God "as a man," with the "appearance of fire round about." This last was a prelude of the incarnation of Messiah, but in His character as Saviour and as Judge (Rev. 19:11-16). The azure sapphire answers to the color of the sky. As others are called "sons of God," but He "the Son of God," so others are called "sons of man" (Eze 2:1, 3), but He "the Son of man" (Mt 16:13), being the embodied representative of humanity and the whole human race; as, on the other hand, He is the representative of "the fullness of the Godhead" (Col 2:9). While the cherubim are movable, the throne above, and Jehovah who moves them, are firmly fixed. It is good news to man, that the throne above is filled by One who even there appears as "a man."—Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
“The Godhead appears in the likeness of humanity, though God is spirit. The Messiah, God incarnate is the representative of the “fullness of the Godhead” (Col. 2:9), so this can be a prelude to the incarnation of Messiah in His character as Savior and Judge.”
“The description suggests that Ezekiel saw a fiery brightness that had human shape and which he knew to be living and personal (cf. John 1:18). However illuminating appearances of God were in OT times, they could not effect redemption. God, not merely appearing as a man, but becoming man in the incarnation of Jesus Christ so that He could die, was essential for the work of redemption. Ezekiel could not have seen God directly or he would have died. But seeing the glory of the LORD in Babylon assured him that God had not deserted His people.”—Ryrie Study Notes
V. FIFTHLY, THE COLLAPSE.
“…So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” (Ezek 1:28b)
VI. FINALLY, THE CONTEMPLATION. WHY?
A. First, it demonstrates the Transcendency of God!
He is beyond our total comprehension…
B. Second, it speaks of His Sovereignty.
He is on the throne! Regardless of what the Babylonians do, He is firmly in control calling the shots.
C. Thirdly, we see His Universality.
Since God has revealed Himself as being in the Temple, in the Holy of Holies above the mercy seat, Israel tended to think of God as being limited to Jerusalem. By showing up in Babylon He was proclaiming that He was present with them in Babylon also.
D. Fourthly, soon fulfillment of Prophecy.
He had predicted judgment on Jerusalem by dramatically departing from Jerusalem, He removed the last hindrance to Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the city.
E. Fifthly, the need for Ezekiel’s Ministry.
To enter into effective service for the Lord, we must have a clear vision of who the Lord is…
F. Finally, no matter how dark the storm His presence is Verifiable.
“He is in our storms. When people are consumed by insurmountable problems and buffeted by the storms of life, they usually do not need another perspective on their problems. What they do need is a new perspective on God as Lord of life and larger than all its difficulties. Humanity in peril needs a sense of the awesome majesty of God. There needs to be an awareness that God is greater than adversity. He is with His people in the midst of their problems.”
Con:
1. Yes God chastens, but No He never abandons His people.
2. Phil Little Ford and his son went on an Alaskan fishing trip with two other men. They landed their seaplane in a secluded bay. When the day came to an end they discovered their plane was on dry ground. The fluctuating tide had left the plane 23 feet from the water. So they crooked some fish and spent the night in the plane.
When they awoke the tide had come in and the plane was drifting. They took off, but one of the pontoons had been punctured and the seaplane crashed. They used their waders as floating devices but the water was dangerously cold. The current was too strong for Phils 12 year old son to swim against. The other two fought their way to the shore.
Phil refusing to leave his son Mark was swept out to sea with him. The Coast Guard said they probably lasted no more than an hour in the freezing water. Phil could have made it to shore, but that would have meant abandoning his son.
When Israel went into captivity God went with them! He did not abandon them, and that is what Ezekiel’s vision is all about. We may not be able to make an interpretation of everything in this passage but the application is crystal clear. And by the way God will not abandon us either!
“ Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?” (Heb 13:5-6 (AMP)
Johnny Palmer Jr.
www.strugglingthruscripture.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/strugglingthruscriptures
