"The Hands Of A Man"

by G. Jarvie | Category: General | Jul 1962

"They had the hands of a man under their wings" (Ezekiel 1. 8).

The book of Ezekiel is a rich mine to those who take time to dig in it. Much of its prophecy may be hidden from us now, because it belongs to Israel, and to a future day. Yet some of it we can enjoy.

We feel, as we read it, how very finite we are.

We read of those heavenly beings who went whithersoever the Spirit was to go. Each one of them had four faces and four wings. They were like the seraphim, of whom we read in Isaiah 6.6, their appearance was as burning coals of fire (1.18). They ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. There is much about them that we cannot understand, and much that is awesome. The noise of their wings was like the noise of great waters. But under their wings they had the hands of a man.

Above the living creatures was the likeness of a throne, and the likeness of the appearance of a Man upon it above. It is not possible for us to understand such descriptions, but we know what like the hands of a man are. The appearance of a Man upon the throne, we judge to be one of the appearances of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Ezekiel saw all this he fell upon his face.

"The hands of a man"! This may speak to us of men being linked with heavenly beings in fulfilling the eternal purposes of God. Brother, sister, your hands are needed to work with the Divine Spirit! Where ? In the world ! We read of those living creatures that " they went every one straight forward: whither the Spirit was to go, they went" (1.12). Shall we go where the Spirit leads? We cannot go alone, or on our own initiative. We must go where and when the Spirit leads.

Like Isaiah, Ezekiel saw the vision first, and then came the word of the LORD, "Son of man, I send thee." Is the Lord likely to send us, as He sent Ezekiel ? Not unless we are quiet before Him as Ezekiel was. He was upon his face when he first heard the Voice.

In chapter 3 he receives the word that he is to speak, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear" (3.11). This is an important lesson for the servant of Christ today. He is to speak the word of the Lord, and to speak it with authority. He is not to colour it, nor to give any of his own imagination, nor is he to try and make it pleasing to men. It is God's word to be carried faithfully and feelingly to the people. "Son of man," He said, "go, get thee to them."

But how will he go? "Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place" (3.12). It is the servant of the LORD being carried forward irresistibly to do the work of the LORD, carried where the Spirit would have him to go.

Those who have travelled by plane will have felt the thrill as the plane is taking off, and the maximum power is being exerted by the engines to make it rise. It feels almost like a living thing, as the traveller is borne upward and onward to his destination. So it was as the man Ezekiel was borne upward, as if on the wings of the living creatures, their wings being joined to each other. "So," he said, "the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away" (3.14).

Surely we will not sit at ease in this the last hour! In Mark 16.20, we read, "They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them." Ezekiel says, "I came to them ... where they dwelt" (3.15). Where they dwell! Yes, that is where we must go, not by some impulse of our own, but borne there by the Spirit of God. God was at work and He was working through His servant. Mighty heavenly beings were at work, but they had the hands of a man under their wings. God was with this man who was carrying His word to the people (Israel) where they dwelt.

As Ezekiel sat there among the people, the word of the LORD came to him. "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me" (3.17). The prophet could not possibly evade that word. He was a responsible man to pass on the word of the LORD to the people to whom God had sent him. Let the words of Ezekiel 3 ring in our ears until we see our responsibility, not only to the favoured few in English-speaking lands, but to the multitudes elsewhere, who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. We think of the words of Paul, "I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men" (Acts 20.26).

What part are we taking to reach "the millions"? Many dear brethren will say, "We have been preaching this word from our youth". Thank God for that. Do not cease until the Master comes.

Lest Ezekiel should tire of continually warning the people, the word of the LORD came again to him in chapter 33.7, "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me."

Brethren, continue in your faithful ministry at home and abroad, whether the people hear you, or refuse to hear you. Continue in your faithful ministry. Dear younger brethren, you have youth and health and zeal and adaptability. Is the Lord calling you? Can you hear a cry from across the seas, " Come over and help us or we die" ? Someone has written

"Facing a task unfinishedWhere other lords beside Thee

That drives us to our knees,Hold their unhindered sway;

A need that undiminishedWhere forces that defied Thee,

Rebukes our slothful ease. Defy Thee still today.

We who rejoice to know Thee,With none to heed their crying

Renew before Thy throne, For life and love and light,

The solemn pledge we owe TheeUnnumbered souls are dying

To make Thy glory known. And pass into the night."

G. Jarvie | Jul 1962
General