“And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.” – Ezekiel 1:27-28
How do you picture God? Many of us picture an aged, caring father based on imagery which we’ve absorbed (directly or indirectly) from great art. However, the Bible paints a picture of God that’s far more overwhelming, magnificent, glorious, and indescribable. Scripture offers a handful of visions of God granted to certain prophets.
What those prophets saw was so overwhelming, beautiful, and beyond human comprehension that they were challenged, even under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to find words to communicate meaningfully how awe-inspiring God truly is. Gleaming metal polished so brilliantly it shines like a dancing fire. Unspeakable brightness, radiance, and blindingly bright light. A vivid rainbow of rich colors. Comparisons to richly colored precious gemstones are often used.
In all likelihood, these words, analogies, and likenesses simply represent the best that human language can offer to describe our indescribably beautiful, awesome, and terrifyingly holy God. Meditate on these descriptions. Let them soak into your soul. Don’t let them depersonalize the love and compassion of the God Who gave His Son for you. However, do let them increase your awe, wonder, and delight at the truth that this very same God welcomes you into His presence every single time you pray to Him!