S) "14 And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning."
Ezekiel 1:14 (NASB)
O) Prophetic language being what it is, makes this chapter difficult to take literally. Ezekiel spends a fair amount of ink, describing mysterious angelic beings. Among their features were four faces, four wings, hooves, seemingly living wheels, and fiery lightning (or perhaps, electric fire). Throughout the Bible, heavenly beings seem to have numerous forms. In fact, it seems that almost every mention of angelic creatures comes with new descriptions of them. This suggests a few different things, like the idea that there are simply different "species" serving the LORD in different functions. Or, perhaps angels can morph into different forms, fitting the present need. Because appearances can vary so much, as awesome as their descriptions tend to be, I try not to focus too much on their appearances. Instead, what struck me about this particular instance, was their behavior. They moved in unison, according to the lead of the spirit beneath them, and they were fast. We're talking about spiritual creations, so it's a little silly to think that any "laws" of physics should apply to them. For all I know, angels can teleport. But at the very least, Ezekiel was forced to resort to the description of the fastest known, observable motion, he could use: lightning. Even now, "lightning fast," is a common phrase because the speed of light is (according to some theories) as fast as matter could possibly move. This is how fast angels fly. For all we know, they're even faster. At the least, we know of nothing faster than an angel. This is a glimpse into the limitless resources of the LORD my God. When He commissions an angel, the angel is there. Relative to earthly measure, it's less than a tenth of a second, moving at the speed of light, to any point on the planet.
A) All of this is a little sci-fi, but relative to my own life, this verse reminds me that I serve a limitless God. He has armies of angels, who are supernaturally fast. When God sends help, there is no waiting around! I have nothing to fear, when God is on my side. It's easy to think in blanket terms, like "all-powerful" or "omni-present" and certainly God is everywhere at once. He can always intervene Himself. But, remembering that even His angels, even the created beings which are infinitely beneath Him, even they will appear at His command, before I could measure their movement, is a comforting, encouraging reminder, of the awesome Lord and Commander that I serve.
P) Father, I am in awe of the powers You command. Not only are You all-powerful, You command armies of angels of unfathomable power. I have no reason to doubt, no reason to fear, and no reason to be anything but bold in Your name. Let me continually seek Your will alone, and turn to You alone for my every hope, desire, and need. Let Your will be done. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
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