Slow Down

 June 17, 2021

Ezekiel was in all likelihood a young man when he and about 10,000 of his countrymen were taken into captivity by the Babylonians around 597 BC. About five years later, he began having visions, the first being that of what he called “four living creatures,” and “a wheel within a wheel.” Some have likened his description to a flying saucer, but it can be difficult recreating something from a written description of something Ezekiel himself had never before seen. His description of what he saw was akin to what a Stone Age primitive might say upon seeing a Boeing 747. Whatever it was he saw, his physical description of these creatures and their wheels was majestic and awe-inspiring, but what is often overlooked in his narrative is his account of what these creatures did and how they behaved.

“And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.” —Ezekiel 1:24-25 KJV

Unless he happened to be witness to the eruption of a volcano, the loudest thing Ezekiel would have heard back in 597 BC would have been the roar of a waterfall, so he describes these creatures and wheels as making a lot of noise, perhaps akin to a jet engine. But notice that he hears a voice, the voice of God, only when the noise ceases. And the noise ceases only when these beings are still, their wings no longer beating. 

People often claim the desire to hear from God, but they never stand still long enough, never stop the beating of their wings so his voice can be heard through the clamor. And make no mistake: the noise was spiritual noise. It was these heavenly beings that were flapping their wings so vigorously that God’s voice couldn’t be heard above the din. This fallen world certainly makes a lot of noise that can drown out God’s voice, but this was the noise of beings dedicated to the service of the Almighty God. We can get so busy doing good that we can’t stay still long enough to listen. When we hurriedly catch a few minutes in Scripture reading followed by a hasty prayer as we rush to get to our day, is it any wonder we have trouble hearing from God? It would be bad enough if we were only distracted by the noise of this world—recreation, politics, media, and such. But the work of God can also drown out the voice of God. Bill Hybels used to say, “Don’t let the work of Christ destroy the work of Christ in you. Sadly, he didn’t listen to his own advice, but that doesn’t lessen the truth of his words.

“Lord, slow me down; let me stand still and stop flapping the wings of my heart and mind so I can hear what you want to say to me today. Like the hummingbirds that visit my window, I can be beating my wings so fast they can be heard, while I merely hover, not really getting anywhere. Cause me to stop and rest and listen from the heart so when you call me to action, it will be creative and life-giving instead of merely busy. Jesus told his disciples to “come aside and rest awhile.” We are desperately in need of your rest, so quiet our spirits as you commanded, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)