Ezekiel 1:11
Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
Ezekiel 1:11 belongs to the vision in Ezekiel 1-2 of living creatures and wheels, with wheels within wheels and human appearances joined to the wheels. That machinery looks intricate and difficult to explain, even inexplainable, like a mass of confusion to the finite eye. The verse itself describes the cherubim with two wings stretched upward and joined one to another, while two wings covered their bodies. Those wings stood on each side of God's cloudy chariot, with living wheels beneath it.
The raised and joined position, together with the covering of the body, represents reverence and humility before God. The vision was given to assure the exiled prophet that Israel's mighty God rules above earthly powers. It shows that heaven is closely connected with events on earth.
Amid the wheels a hand of infinite wisdom is revealed bringing perfect order out of the confusion. Every wheel works in its true order and right place in perfect harmony with the grand center and with every other part of the machinery under heavenly direction. God Himself by the Holy Spirit directs and controls His work. The vision thus shows that the world has a ruler who holds coming events, the destiny of nations, and the concerns of His church in His charge. He cares for those loyal to Him, and He can overrule evil rulers for the good of His faithful people.
The vision holds a deep and important lesson for every one of God's workmen and is to be studied with humility and earnest prayer. Human workers must each stand at his post of duty, look to God and trust Him for guidance in every crisis and providence, and leave control to the great I AM. They are to give glory to God alone, with no single human agent claiming control or credit for the work. The wings and living wheels belong to God's cloudy chariot that carries the redeemed upward toward the New Jerusalem. As the chariot rolls upward the wheels cry Holy, the moving wings cry Holy, the retinue of angels cries Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, while the redeemed shout Alleluia. The assurance of God's rule in the vision does not depend on explaining the verse's details about the creatures' wings.