Borne on Eagles’ Wings

The time of first flight is drawing near when a young eagle fledges. Fledgling refers to a baby eagle that has lost its fluffy baby down and has grown feathers. This is a critical time for the baby eagle. If the eagle does not learn to fly, it will not survive. So, the parents become fully involved with the baby to encourage it to take its first attempts at flight usually about 8-10 weeks.

Until this time, the parents have brought food and dropped it into the nest for the baby. Now, however, things change. The parents bring the food and hold it tantalizingly close to the hungry baby. It stretches toward the food mimicking the parent by flapping its wings. The wind drafts from the parent aid the eaglet’s flapping wings and bring about its first hovering flight above the nest. Food is the reward for learning.

This training continues until the parent is ready to teach the young eagle to fly. Now, the parent flies by with food tempting the baby to come and get it. Day by day, as the eagle grows even hungrier, the parents continue this seemingly cruel mocking. Eventually, the desperation for food drives it to leave the nest and trust its wings. On some nearby ledge or cliff, the parent deposits its greatest reward, the long-sought food.

The Lord told His people, “I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” (Exodus 19:4).  The Lord was teaching His children to fly. He did everything for them while they were still young. He brought them out of Egypt and led them over the Red Sea by His strength. He sent manna from heaven and water from a rock.

Then, the time came when they were to spread their wings and fly.  He had watched over them until they had fully developed and were ready to use their strength combined with the Lord’s to take the land promised to them. But, they failed. So, the Lord started over with a whole new group and prepared them for their eventual success.

The Lord has borne us along, as well, to our current position. We have been nurtured and trained. We have been encouraged to stretch and grow toward our own spiritual maturity. Some of us have failed and have had to start over.  Others of us are soaring even to greater heights. All along there are others coming along behind. The Lord truly is gracious and has borne us on eagles’ wings.

-Mike Johnson, Pulpit Minister