As the vision opens (vs. 4), Ezekiel looks and sees a whirlwind come out of the north. Whirlwinds were often used as precursors for majestic and powerful scenes and this is no different. Out of the midst of the whirlwind, though, Ezekiel witnesses the likeness of four living creatures proceed, each having four faces and four wings. The number four has special symbolism in Biblical writings, alluding to completeness or perfection. The four wings symbolize the perfect ability of these angelic beings to move anywhere at anytime with swiftness in order to fulfill the will of God whom they serve. The four faces, each representing a powerful creation of God likewise identify these living creatures as phenomenal beings. One of the faces was the face of a man which represented wisdom and intelligence as man is the crowning achievement of God’s creation. The face of the lion indicated power and authority, both attributes commonly associated with this fierce creature. The face of the ox represented the strength and service of this domesticated animal. And the face of the eagle brought to mind speed and discernment. Each of the attributes associated with the faces describes what kind of creatures these angelic beings were and identifies them as amazing.
In addition to their physical appearance, Ezekiel records further information regarding their organization and fervor in service. Their feet and legs were straight, able to withstand any burden God would place upon them; and they were joined one to another, never turning off course, but traveling straight forward. They were perfectly unified as servants of God and bore the needed attributes of accomplishing anything God demanded of them.
Around the middle of the chapter (vs. 15), Ezekiel reveals an added attribute of these amazing creatures, that their work was accomplished “as it were” a wheel in the middle of a wheel (vs. 16). The “as it were” indicates that this was not literally so, but appeared as such. The wheel in the middle of a wheel reemphasizes the ability and willingness of these creatures to go anywhere at anytime without limitation in order to fulfill the expectations associated with serving God. The rings of the wheels were full of eyes (vs. 18) representing the all-seeing nature of God as He oversees their work, and the fact that the wheels were not on the ground but above it (vs. 21) indicates further the lack of limitation as to their abilities. An added feature of these beings was that their movement was directed by their spirit (vs. 21) meaning that when they went, there was no reluctance on their part, but full submission. Further verses 22-24 reveal that there was a firmament directly above them to indicate that they were not supreme beings.
This is quite a description of a these living creatures. The attributes associated with them surely strike a since of awe and wonder in the heart of every sincere student of the Bible. But this was not the fullness of the vision. Revealed in the final four verses of the chapter is the fact that these living creatures in all of their wonder still were under the likeness of the throne of God, indicating their subjection to Him as their Creator and as their Master. Not only was this throne situated above them to indicate their subjection, but when a voice came out of the firmament, these angelic beings let down their wings in reverence to the great Sovereign of the universe. That is the likeness of the glory of God that illustrates His splendor and bliss; that no matter how glorious a creature there might be, still there is a Creator to whom it is subject and that Creator is God.
Man can learn much from this depiction of God’s glory, but most important is that man recognizes the glory that is due God. It is before that great splendor that we too should fall prostrate in honor of the great Master that we too must serve with fullness of heart.