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We are prone to make assumptions about God and His favor when life has us down due to sin, mistakes, or incomprehensible circumstances.  Of all Scripture passages we might turn to during these times, the bizarre vision that opens the book of Ezekiel would not register high on our list.  However, reading this passage with its ancient context in mind reveals a powerful message for its original recipients and for every believer.

The Babylonian Context

Ezekiel had his vision in Babylon as one of the captive exlies (Ezek. 1: 1-3).  Comparing his vision to Babylonian iconography reveals that Ezekiel saw a diving "throne chariot" of the heavens -- widely described in the ancient Biblical world.  Just as human kings had chariots, so did deities.  A deity would traverse the heavens in his chariot throne, inspecting his domain and exercising authority over it.  In Ezekiel's vision, this throne sits atop the "expanse" (Ezek 1: 26) - this is the same Hebrew word used in Genesis 1: 6-8 for the heavens (see also Psa 23:10) and to describe God's abode (Psa 150:1).  Wheels supported the chariot throne, along with four unusual creatures (identified as cherubum in Ezek 10:4).  Each creature has four faces: human, lion, eagle, and ox (Ezek 1: 10).  NExt to each cherub were four gleaming wheels (Ezek 1: 15-16).   These wheels were set on edge, since they were described as "tall" (Ezek 1: 18).  They had wheels within them - that is, each one had at least one concentric circle within it.  The vision describes the outer edge, or "rim" of each wheel having "eyes".  The prophet Daniel, who was also in Babylon, described the very same blazing throne with wheels (Dan 7:9).

The Vision in Context

The four faces of the four animals or cherubim correspond to the iconography of the Bablyonian zodiac.  Each represents a seasonal constellation in Babylonian astrology, and each face or constellatoin also represents one of the four directions (N, S, E, W) or quadrants of the sky.  Babylonians knew that the heavens were connected to what happened on earth (times, seasons, crops, weather, etc.), and they believed thier gods controlled those functions.  Information about the stars was laid out on Mesopotamian astrolables, clay tablets who concentric circles could well correspond to the "wheels within wheels" imagery.

English translations of Ezekiel's vision often break down at the point where the prophet describes "eyes" ('ayin) on the rims of the wheels.  'Ayin occurs a number of places in the vision, but is not always translated.  Taking the ESV as an example, 'ayin occurs six times in chapter 1 (vv. 4. 7. 16, 18, 22, 27) but it it left untranslated three times (vv. 4, 7, 27).  In the vision's description of the wheels, the word 'ayin is translated once as "sparkling" (Ezek 10:9).  Since ancient astronomical texts commonly desribe shining stars as "eyes" 'ayin can refer to stars or their sparkling appearence.  Many translators and preachers miss this possiblity, failing to consider the astronomical context portrayed by the four faces (and you get strange interpretations).

The Meaning of the Vision

During their time of exile, the Jewish captives might have easily believed God had abandoned them forever.  Likewise, the Babylonians could have simply assumed their gods had defeated YHWH and rules the heavens and the earth unchallenged.  But Ezekiel's imgery sends a message to the Jews in exile - and to their Babylonian captors: Both assumptions are flawed.  God has not been defeated, nor has He turned away from His people, Israel.  He remains seated in His chariot throne at the center of His domain - the entire cosmos.  When we read Ezekiel 1 through ancient eyes, we can feel the same hope today:  Even in the midst of difficult circumstances, we can know that an all-powerful God is active and present in our lives.