Ezekiel saw the wheel

Sometimes I wonder why God decided that a particular phrase or verse was something that needed to be included in His written Word.  The past two blogs have been about such things:  Why did we need to know who, when and where Ezekiel was when he saw the vision of God's majesty? 

But the description of the vision itself does not seem so puzzling.  This is somehow what I guess I should expect out of an Eternal God: A storm, fire, flashing lightning, glowing metal as in a fire.  But amazingly, these were just the living being-announcers who, in turn, were the God Almighty-announcers.  That is, when Ezekiel needed to see the Lord God Almighty, before he could even catch a glimpse of Him, he needed to see the precursors (fire, light, burning metal, storm) of the precursors (the four living creatures).

Then came the four living creatures themselves.  Their description has fascinated people for thousands of years.  The first thing that Ezekiel noticed is that they were different from the fire, storm, lightning, etc. in that they appeared to be alive, that is they were living beings and had a human form.  What can I learn from this?  God does not approach us primarily through forces, but primarily through life.  When God approached Ezekiel, He was not in the fire and lightning and storm, He followed the four living creatures.  Somehow that reminds me of Elijah's encounter with God on Mount Horeb (Sinai).  God was not in the wind, earthquake and fire, even though each of them preceded His appearing.  He revealed Himself as the still small voice in the gentle blowing.  God is alive!  He is not the expression of the powers of nature, although these always reflect Him.  He expresses Himself in life, so in this passage, Ezekiel sees the four living creatures before he sees the Almighty God Himself.  Thus the Lord of Life is indeed Who He is.  He is the Lord of all creation, but the core of His nature is LIFE!

Lord, I long to worship You!  My praise is so weak, my worship so puerile.  Help me to fall in worship at Your feet.  Help me to know a little of Your amazing You-ness.  I cannot do this in myself.  I need a fresh glimpse of You!  Help me to understand a little of the significance of You as the Lord of Life!