Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way up in the middle of the air
Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way up in the middle of the air

I loved singing this spiritual around campfires as a kid.  It’s the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the name Ezekial.  Or perhaps you remember hearing the song performed by Louis Armstrong or Johnny Cash.  Like many African American spirituals it’s firmly rooted in a Biblical story.

The story begins when Ezekial at 25 was exiled after the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. Prior to being uprooted from his homeland, It seems that he was set to become a priest.  But God had other plans for Ezekial.

Ezekiel spent five years in captivity facing despair. At 30, he experienced a powerful vision from God.  He saw four wheels—each composed of two intersecting wheels—allowing constant movement for the “living creatures.” These beings, later called cherubim, served as guardians of God’s holiness.

As terrifying as the vision was, it revealed God’s majesty, holiness, and authority.  Even during the Babylonian exile, it showed Ezekial that God is not limited to any location but rules over all creation, all nations. The vision of four wheels highlighted God’s omnipresence and omniscience.

Ezekiel went from despair to faith after encountering God.  He became a key voice for his generation. He recognized that God’s Word addressed their captivity and exile, offering comfort, insight, and victory if they repented.

The message was clear: though His people were in exile and their nation was about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and able to handle every situation. The lesson for us today is much the same.  Through His marvelous providence, God moves in the affairs of all nations to work out His own unseen plan. Don’t ever underestimate his unconditional love for his children.

Judy