Ezekiel 1:12

12 All of the creatures went straight ahead. Anywhere their spirits would lead them to go, they would go. They didn't change their direction as they went.

Ezekiel 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 1:12

And they went everyone straight forward
Or, "over against his face" F17; for, which way soever they went, whether forward or backward, or on either side, they had a face to go before them, to direct the way, and steer their course; so the ministers of the Gospel have a face to go by and follow after, the word of God, to look to and direct them, which way soever they go, or whatsoever service they are called unto; whither the spirit was to go they went;
which may be meant of their own spirit, will, and inclination; so the Targum,

``to the place where it was their good pleasure to go they went;''
so Jarchi and Kimchi; but this is not always the case, see ( Acts 16:6-9 ) ; rather the Holy Spirit of God is intended, by whom holy men of God were moved, and spoke formerly; and by whom Gospel ministers are led into the truth, as it is in Jesus; and by whom they are directed where to go, and what to do; and they are sent, and go where the Spirit of God is designed to go, in order to work upon the hearts of men and effectually call them by his grace, which is usually done by the ministry of the word; and therefore Gospel ministers must go, and they do go where the Spirit of God has work to do by them; see ( Acts 16:6 Acts 16:7 ) ; [and] they turned not when they went;
they had no occasion to turn their bodies, because, which way soever they went, they had a face to go before them, and direct the way; (See Gill on Ezekiel 1:9).
FOOTNOTES:

F17 (wynp rbe la) "coram facie sua", V. L. "in tractam faciei suae", [objectum], Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Polanus; "ante faciem suam", Starckius.

Ezekiel 1:12 In-Context

10 Here's what their faces looked like. Each of the four creatures had a man's face. On the right side each had the face of a lion. On the left each had the face of an ox. Each one also had an eagle's face.
11 That's what their faces looked like. Two of their wings were spread out and lifted up. Each one touched the wing of another creature on either side. The other two wings covered their bodies.
12 All of the creatures went straight ahead. Anywhere their spirits would lead them to go, they would go. They didn't change their direction as they went.
13 The living creatures looked like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures. It was bright. Lightning flashed out of it.
14 The creatures raced back and forth like flashes of lightning.
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