Ezekiel 1:8

Ezekiel 1:8 says, And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.  Ezekiel is still talking about the appearance of the four living creatures he saw in his vision.  These living creatures were said to have four hands under their four wings along with their four faces.  Matthew Henry says the four wings transported them quickly and the four hands equipped them to do the work that needed doing.  He also said some people are quick to get to where work needs to be done and then don’t have a desire to do it.  We need to be quick to go where God calls us, but we then need to be willing to do what He has called us to do.  When He calls us, He equips us to do what He calls us to do.   

Verse nine adds, Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.  There was a unity of purpose in what they did.  When they knew what they were to do, they went straight to the work without any turning.  As followers of Christ, we should go straight to work at doing what He has called us to do.  If we do turn aside, then we need to repent and once again walk the path that He has set us on.   

Verse ten continues, As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.  These living creatures had four faces, the face of a man on the front, of a lion on the right side and the face of an ox on the left, and of an eagle on the back side. This represented them being able to identify with humanity, being as ferocious as a lion in a fight, being as strong as an ox, and being able to soar like an eagle would be my understanding of this verse.  I do know that God will give us all the things we need to be victorious spiritually in the world today as long as we put our faith in Him.   

Verse eleven states, 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.  Two of their wings were used to cover their body, and two were used to fly.  These living creatures, or angels were also united in purpose, which was to serve God as He directed them.   We as Christians are equipped to do what God calls us to do and should be united in purpose.   

Verse twelve adds, And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.  Once more, we are told that these living creatures went where the Holy Spirit sent them without turning aside.  We as followers of Christ must do the same.   

Verse thirteen continues, As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.  Ezekiel said that these living creatures appearance was as burning coals and of lamps.  There was a brightness that surrounded them.  Matthew Henry says Ezekiel saw them by their own light.  There was also the light of the lamps to illuminate them.  If we are a born-again believer, then we see by the light of Jesus Christ and not by our own light.   Our works are judged by fire, burning away all that is not pure.   

Verse fourteen concludes, And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.  Ezekiel said the living creatures went out and returned like a flash of lightning.  They quickly did what God sent them to do and returned to Him for their next assignment.  We need to do what God sends us to do as quickly as we can and then return to Him for our next task.  Matthew Henry points out that they weren’t encumbered by a body but were free to travel without limitations.  I realize that we have limits on how fast we can do things, and sometimes our calling is to a lifelong task, but there will still be times when God calls us to a specific task, and we need to work at accomplishing it as quickly as possible under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.