Eagles' Wings

Lately, I have been fascinated with watching two eagle-cams on the Internet.  Having watched these magnificent birds "in person" soaring through the air as they search for their food and now getting a rare glimpse into their nest, makes me understand why some of the most powerful texts in the Bible use eagles as descriptions for God's protection, strength and deliverance:

• "I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself."  Exodus 19:4
• "but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles"  Isaiah 40:31

One eagle-cam is following a nest with two eggs yet to hatch.  The mother eagle sitting on her eggs, ever alert, is doing just what she knows to do:  periodically nudging or rolling her eggs, resettling herself, just so, while her warmth incubates the eggs.  The nest is 110' feet up a tree and there is sound so you can hear the wind and see it whipping the tree.  There's been snow in the nest, but the eggs are warm and safe under the feathers of that eagle.  I keep thinking of verses such as this one: Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

Watching the activities and duties of the parents in both of these nests has been very interesting.  The other camera is watching two eaglets about a month old.  I've seen these parents take turns cleaning and rearranging the nest, bringing fish to the babies, feeding them and now beginning to leave them for longer periods of time, preparing them for their eventual flight from the nest.

Sometimes I need very simple lessons and illustrations to remind me of the deep truths of God.  My faith wavers or weakens when the cold winds blow and I need to be reminded of where I am and how protected I am.  I don't need to go on with the metaphor - it's not so difficult to make the comparison - but what a treat it's been to watch creation mimic our Creator. 

One of my favorite verses to pray almost as a breath-prayer, is from Psalm 90:4 "Lord you have been our (MY) dwelling place."  Looking again at Psalm 91, thinking of the eagles, thinking of our loving God and father - our dwelling place:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place -

the Most High, who is my refuge -

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation."