Ezekiel 1:21
When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
The wheels moved, stood still, and rose from the earth exactly together with the living creatures because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. What looks intricate and like utter confusion to the finite eye is under a hand of infinite wisdom that brings perfect order and harmony, with every wheel in its right place working with every other part. That spirit in the wheels is the Spirit of God moving, directing, and controlling them, joining heaven closely to earth so that the world, the nations, and the church are under His care and rule. Even the strife and tumult of nations and the evil plans of men are under His control, and He overrules them for the good of His faithful people and brings harmony out of confusion. Those who carry on His work must therefore stand at their post of duty under God as instructor, depending on the Holy Spirit and trusting Him to direct it, so that each part is guided by Him and works in harmony with the others.
The Symbol Explained
When those went, these went, and when those stood, these stood, and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. The living creatures and the wheels move and stop in perfect coordination, so that when the creatures move, stand, or rise from the earth the wheels do the same. The wheels are part of a divine symbol in which wheels and appearances of human beings are connected with them, and their motion is connected with the living creature's spirit within them. Each part of the work illustrated by the wheels is guided by Him and works in harmony with the others, with human agents to do their appointed work while trusting God to direct it.
The vision is intricate and hard to explain, inexplainable and intricate in its movements. To the prophet it looked like a mass of confusion, and the wheels within wheels look like confusion to the finite eye. What looked like confusion was under God's control, while the complex vision reveals perfect order under His direction.
A hand of infinite wisdom is at work among the machinery, revealed amid the wheels. In response to that hand perfect order is brought out of the confusion, and His power can bring harmony out of confusion. Every wheel works in its true order and right place in perfect harmony with every part of the grand center and with every other part of the machinery. The whole world is under His control, with myriads of glorified beings standing ready at His word to overrule the power and policy of evil men and bring good to His faithful ones.
The spirit in the wheels is the Spirit of God moving and directing them and controlling them. It is He who moved and directed the wheels into harmony with the living creatures. The many faces to every wheel show the complexity of the workings of heaven and earth. Beneath the wheels a hand brings perfect order from confusion, revealing the machinery of earth and heaven working under God.
God Controls Earthly Affairs
The perfect keeping of step between wheels and living creatures — going, standing, and lifting together because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels — shows heaven closely joined to earth, with God above the cherubim guiding earthly affairs. The machinery of earth and of heaven is under His hand and direction, and the world with its nations and the church are under His care and rule. In this coordinated movement human events, even the strife and tumult of nations, are under divine control. What looks to man like complete entanglement is under God's control, for the divine hand is upon the wheels, and every part moves in complete harmony, each doing its specified work yet with individual freedom of action.
Man may think he is directing matters, but higher than human influences are at work. Those who do not know God cannot comprehend His movements. God is acquainted with every person, and eternal justice is at work through a powerful influence not under man's control, working to counteract Satan's plans. What looked like confusion was under God's control, for His power can bring harmony out of confusion and overrule human evil and the power and policy of evil men for the good of His faithful people. Myriads of glorified beings stand ready at His word to do this overruling and to frustrate wicked plans formed against them.
The bright light moving among the living creatures with lightning-like speed shows how swiftly God's work will reach completion. Though the work may look tangled and complicated to human minds, God keeps it in perfect order. The laws of nature are harmonious and conform with all God's working. The living and true God is everywhere necessary to direct earth and heaven, rather than creation and providence being accounted for by human philosophy and mere law of nature.
Calling and Final Deliverance
The first and second chapters of Ezekiel are to be studied carefully with humility and earnest prayer, for they hold a deep and important lesson for every one of God's workmen. In His providence God is preparing a way for His work to be done by and through human agents, while the glory belongs to God rather than to human power or control. Every wheel directed by the hand of God works in perfect harmony with every other wheel, and perfect order is the result.
Those handling God's interests must depend on the Holy Spirit to guide them as faithful shepherds and faithful stewards of the grace of God. Each is to stand at his post of duty with God as instructor, doing his appointed work while trusting God to direct it, so that each part is guided by Him and works in harmony with the others. Workers must act at once when providences and possibilities demand it instead of waiting for human voice and dictation. They must leave management and control of what belongs to the great I AM to God instead of seeking too much power to control, dictate, and manage the work themselves and leaving the mighty Worker out of their methods and plans, trusting Him for its advancement.
The living wheels beneath the cloudy chariot echo this verse: as the chariot rises carrying the saints and redeemed upward to the holy city and New Jerusalem, its wheels move with it. The wheels move and stop in step with the living creatures, and rise from the earth when the creatures rise, because the living creature's spirit is in the wheels. The wheels are alive and proclaim God's holiness together with the wings, with wheels and wings crying Holy as they move. The retinue of angels proclaims God as holy and almighty, crying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, while the redeemed shout Alleluia and praise.