This is described in Ezekiel as “A WHIRLWIND COMING OUT OF THE NORTH, A GREAT CLOUD. . .CATCHING IN ON ITSELF AND BRIGHTNESS ROUND ABOUT” (Ezekiel 1:4).
In case one is tempted to look upon this as unique, it should be pointed out that when the Almighty appeared to Job in the Shekinah we are told that “THE LORD ANSWERED JOB OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND” (Job 38:1; 40:6).
Again we are informed that “ELIJAH WENT UP BY A WHIRLWIND INTO HEAVEN” when the Lord took him to be with Himself (2 Kings 2:1, 11).
Both Jeremiah and Zechariah tell us that the Lord goes forth in the whirlwind (Jer. 23:19; 30:23; Zech. 9:14) and Nahum assures us that “THE LORD HAS HIS WAY IN THE WHIRLWIND AND IN THE STORM AND THE CLOUDS ARE THE DUST OF HIS FEET” (Nahum 1:3).
It is apparent that the whirlwind is therefore the classical way in which God revealed Himself or performed His activity." CMI