1Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
2In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and Yahweh’s hand was there on him.
4I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal, out of the middle of the fire. 5Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man. 6Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings. 7Their feet were straight feet. The sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. The four of them had their faces and their wings like this: 9Their wings were joined to one another. They didn’t turn when they went. Each one went straight forward.
10As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion on the right side. The four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. The four of them also had the face of an eagle. 11Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies. 12Each one went straight forward. Where the spirit was to go, they went. They didn’t turn when they went. 13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches. The fire went up and down among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning went out of the fire. 14The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
15Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it. 16The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl. The four of them had one likeness. Their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17When they went, they went in their four directions. They didn’t turn when they went. 18As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.
19When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them. When the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20Wherever the spirit was to go, they went. The spirit was to go there. The wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21When those went, these went. When those stood, these stood. When those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
22Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like an awesome crystal to look at, stretched out over their heads above. 23Under the expanse, their wings were straight, one toward the other. Each one had two which covered on this side, and each one had two which covered their bodies on that side. 24When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stood, they let down their wings.
25There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads. When they stood, they let down their wings. 26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. 27I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
This was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh’s glory. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
The bible doesn’t normally tell the reader when specific birthdays were, so when something unique is highlighted we should pay attention. In the case of Ezekiel, the emphasis on his birthday holds the key to the text. Before the exile Ezekiel was in training to become a priest, it was his Birthright, inheritance and calling, from the day he was born the journey to priesthood began. His father, his grandfather and great grandfather had all been priests, Ezekiel would have been destined and privileged to carry on the family tradition. The Levite men pursuing the priesthood would complete their studies, then graduate and be ordained as a fully-fledged priest on their 30th birthday. For Ezekiel the 31st of July should have been so different, he should have been in Jerusalem, taking up his role at the temple. It should have been a day of great celebration and fulfilment but, there was no party to celebrate, no temple to serve in and no sense of accomplishment. Instead, he stood on the banks of the Kebar River in a strange land disappointed and broken. This was not how today was meant to be.
Understanding the first line helps us realise the significance of what happened next. God presence was not confined to the temple, his reach was not limited to Judah, his power went beyond city limits. God reached out to him in the heart of enemy territory and opened up the heavens to Ezekiel and confirmed the call upon his life. There are times when we look around and can only say this is not how it was meant to be. But, let’s remember that God is not finished with us and his power is not limited by our situation. Even the in heart of enemy territory he can still peel back the heavens because he is still God.