Ezekiel 1-2

“The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest ... in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal” (v3). Ezekiel received his prophetic visions not in Jerusalem, but in exile in Babylonia. He saw a heavenly, sapphire throne and “a likeness with a human appearance” surrounded by a shining rainbow. Under the throne were magnificent, winged creatures and great wheels, and “wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them” (v20).

“I was among the exiles ...” (v1). Ezekiel saw that the God of the universe is active, powerful, and gloriously among us whether we are experiencing victory or exile, joy or suffering.