Have you ever seen an eagle soaring in flight out in the wild? Of course there are no eagles flying around where I live in Chicago, however about 150 miles west, at the Mississippi River, bald eagles come to spend the winter months. That is a very special sight to see. They are strong, majestic birds. There have been stories of them picking up small animals. The eagle has also been considered the king of the skies, and has been the chosen symbol of emperors and their mighty armies. The eagle is mentioned a number of times in the Bible, sometimes comparing its swiftness to an enemy nation swooping in for a prey, or as a promise to believers that those who trust in the Lord can be strengthened like that mighty bird. Today’s Scripture describes God’s special care for His children with reference to the eagle.
Our Scripture today comes from the Book of Exodus, and occurs a few short months following the Lord parting the Red Sea for the people of Israel to cross on dry land, and escape the Egyptian army and slavery. They had journeyed through the wilderness, and were now at the base of Mount Sinai, where the Lord would shortly give His Law to Moses. Mount Sinai is also frequently called Mount Horeb throughout Scripture. It is one of the most sacred places in the Bible, and it was from here that God had called Moses from the burning bush less than a year earlier. Several centuries later the great prophet Elijah would seek refuge there, and the Lord would speak His Word to him in a still, small voice (I Kings 19:7-18).
The Lord’s first message to Moses and the people here at Mt. Sinai was to tell them how He had watched over them, bringing them safely out from the bondage they had known in Egypt. One image that the Lord gave was that of an eagle. Eagles have always been a greatly admired creature. Strong, powerful, and mighty. They fly higher than most every other bird, and there are few, if any, predators who can harm an eagle. Ancient people told mythological legends of eagles so large that they could carry a man on their back. It was just such an image that God used to describe how He brought His people out from Egypt (vs. 4). If someone were to step into a legend and actually ride upon a giant eagle, that person would be safe from just about any harm. That eagle could whisk us away from all danger. He could carry us swiftly across the land, and mount higher than all but a few other birds. There are stories that speak of an adult eagle sometimes carrying its babies on its wings, and God also spoke of that, and how He carries us in such a manner (Deuteronomy 32:11-12). God’s care for us is just like that. He bears us on eagle’s wings, with loving care and protection all through our life, and we can feel as safe as if we were on a giant, legendary eagle.
As our Scripture continues, the Lord told the people that if they would obey and follow Him, they would be His special treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation (vs. 5-6). Do you have something that you own that is very special to you? If you do, you find a special place in your home for that item, keeping it safe. It is a special treasure to you. Christians, God’s Blood-bought children are a special treasure to Him. God sees us as a special jewel to be protected and loved. He sacrificed His Son to redeem us from sin. He loves us so much that we can trust Him to keep us safe from harm and danger from our enemies.
We are also to be a holy nation for the Lord. Something that is holy is sanctified, set apart to God for His purpose and use. We are to be just such sanctified people for Him, not something ordinary, common, or crude. We are to be priests, interceding on behalf of others to God. The Apostle Peter said a similar thing in his epistle in I Peter 2:9.
These words of protection and care were a promise that the Lord was giving to His people. However this was a conditional promise. God’s promises in the Bible fall into two categories, those that are unconditional and those that are conditional. Unconditional promises are guaranteed no matter what man does. The promise made to Noah that He would never destroy the world again with a flood is one. The promise of sending the Messiah is another. Most promises, though, are conditional. If we obey Him, He will do this or that. This was a conditional promise that Moses brought back from the Lord to the people, who readily agreed to follow and obey Him (vs. 7-8). Unfortunately the people of Israel were very fickle and quickly strayed from the Lord to follow false gods and their own way.
How about us? Are we willing to trust and obey the Lord? Do you want to be God’s special treasure, loved and protected by Him? Do you want to be carried by Him throughout life, like on the wings of an eagle? Turn to Jesus in trust and become His special treasure, and be borne up on His wings like an eagle.
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