Ezekiel 1:3
The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
The word came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar, and the hand of the Lord was there upon him. It opens the account of vivid heavenly scenes and living creatures in the verses that follow, showing that he received divine revelation while in exile. It sets up a vision teaching that what appears intricate and confusing to finite eyes is directed by infinite wisdom. The hand of the Lord upon him reveals a hand of infinite wisdom at work amid the wheels within wheels.
The wheels and living creatures show that God brings perfect order and harmony to His work, with every wheel in its right place working in perfect harmony with every other part. The vision shows that heaven is closely connected with events on earth and that God cares for those loyal to Him, for the Lord holds coming events, the destiny of nations, and the concerns of His church in His hands, so the world has a ruler. It holds a deep and important lesson for every one of God's workmen and should be studied with humility and earnest prayer. The chapter teaches human workers not to try to control the work themselves but to depend on God, who directs it while using human agents.