When someone asks me why Ezekiel’s vision is important, I often feel the weight of that question. Ezekiel’s imagery is strange, overwhelming, and at times unsettling. And yet, behind all of it is a God who refuses to abandon His people, even when they feel lost or far from home. Many believers come to this vision hoping to understand what God was saying to Israel — and what He might be saying to us today.
In the opening of his book, Ezekiel sees the glory of God coming to him in exile, far from the Temple in Jerusalem. For Israel, this was shocking. They believed God’s presence remained in the Temple — yet here He was, riding on a chariot of living creatures, meeting His people in a foreign land. In a quiet way, God was already giving hope: “I am not confined. I am still with you.” Whenever I read this, I hear the tenderness of a Father who refuses to let His children feel abandoned.
As the vision unfolds, the holiness of God becomes unmistakable. The wheels within wheels, the blazing light, the creatures covered with eyes — all of these strange images are meant to awaken awe. Ezekiel is trying to describe the indescribable. The Church has always seen in this vision a reminder that God is far greater than our imaginations, yet never distant from our lives. His holiness isn’t meant to frighten us, but to draw us into deeper reverence and trust.
But perhaps the most powerful part is what this vision leads to. God sends Ezekiel to speak to a people who feel spiritually dead. Later in the book, we hear the promise of new hearts and the breath of the Spirit bringing life to dry bones. In other words, God’s glory comes not to judge alone, but to restore. I’ve often told people that Ezekiel’s vision is like a doorway — it shows us the majesty of God so that we can believe in His power to heal what seems beyond repair.
What this means for us is simple but profound: wherever we feel exiled in our own lives — far from God, overwhelmed, uncertain — His presence can meet us there. You don’t need to be perfect or strong. You only need to open your heart to the One who comes riding through every barrier to reach His children.
May Ezekiel’s vision remind us that God’s glory is not distant, and His mercy is never far. In every season of exile, He comes close, bringing light, holiness, and the promise of new life.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
