Rainbow

"Like the appearance of the bow that is in the the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around."
-Ezekiel 1:28

Maybe I'm making a connection that shouldn't be made, but I'm of the opinion that, in Scripture, if you can make it, it's probably intentional. After the flood, the rainbow was a promise from God that He would never punish by destruction the whole earth again. In this passage, Ezekiel is looking at the Glory of the Lord, and he compares it to a rainbow. Another promise. A promise that even though God is punishing Israel, it's not to destroy them. A promise of coming salvation. A promise of so many things. To see a rainbow around the Lord! How fitting!!

The first few books of Ezekiel (1-8) are full of a lot of really cool imagery. The Lord gives all these symbols and signs to Ezekiel. Some of the highlights are that the Lords says that even silver and gold won't save Israel from the wrath of the Lord. No matter how hard we try, our stuff can't save us. Also, there's a neat line where the Spirit strengthens Ezekiel to stand. Sometimes I forget that the Holy Spirit is a present in the Old Testament as He is in the New. He's there. He's working.

All throughout history, God has never changed. He's still a God of love, justice, and mercy. He is a God with a plan who keeps His promises.

Hallelujah!!