Behold the Spirit Speaks

Prayer – Lord, sometimes I’m so caught up in myself that I don’t put you first and listen to You. I’m sure that Ezekiel never had that problem. He heard a rumbling—was that scary for him. You lifted him up, took him away, set him on his feet, and then spoke specifically and directly to him. At least Ezekiel was obedient. Help me to hear You speaking to me—even if it is in a still small voice.

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the LORD be praised in his place!) It was the sound of the wings of the living beings as they brushed against each other and the rumbling of their wheels beneath them. The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the LORD's hold on me was strong. ... Then the LORD took hold of me and said, "Get up and go out into the valley, and I will speak to you there." So I got up and went, and there I saw the glory of the LORD, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground. Then the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet. He spoke to me and said, "Go to your house and shut yourself in." Ezekiel 3:12-14, 22-24

 

Meditate. Focus on the Lord and His words.

 

Was it scary for Ezekiel to hear this rumbling sound—and then the sound of wings? Have you ever heard the sound of wings? There are lots of birds in the area where I live—and the Canadian geese that are here year around often fly over our house. If you see them coming and listen closely, you can actually hear the wind or air moving across their wings. Flap. Flap. Swoosh. They have a huge wingspan and it is awesome to hear them. Just this week while a friend and I were having lunch, we saw a bald eagle gliding and soaring around not far away. It is such an enormous bird that at first I thought maybe it was a heron—but as it turned in its circling flight pattern we caught sight of it white tail…and then its white head. Yes, it was an eagle! We really felt blessed to see one soaring so close.

 

The living beings, although they had wings, were not birds but angels. They were specifically identified by Ezekiel in Ezekiel 10:15 as cherubim.  Wow! What a privilege to actually see God’s angels. They are known to guard the holiness of God, the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24) and the Tree of Life. I’d say those are pretty important creatures. They were unusual with wheels and wings. God is certainly creative. We also see these special angels described as a part of the atonement cover on the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25; in Temple decorations listed in 2 Chronicles 3:7; and note that God’s angels are at His throne in Heaven, Revelation 5:11 and 7:11.

 

We can’t see angels but we trust that God has created them as servants for Himself and for people who will be saved because they believe in Jesus as their Savior.

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. Hebrews 1:1-4

There is another verse in Hebrews that is encouraging about angels.

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Hebrews 13:2

If you ever “entertained angels” you probably didn’t hear a sound of wings or rumbling of wheels, but listen closely next time you offer hospitality to strangers.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ And God never said to any of the angels, "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet." Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. Hebrews 1:13-14

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. w

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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