Soaring Eagles

O.T. #188 "Soaring Eagles"
Dec. 13, 2013
Exodus 19-Part 2
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself.  Exodus 19:4 KJV

LET IT GLOW

Please excuse me for talking so often about the eagles who come to the trees across the field in front of my house. I stand in awe of their (and our) Creator's handiwork every time I see them. Their body size and wing span is so astounding. Such a huge bird can actually fly. Oh, to see them soar above the trees, looking for food, then swooping down closer to the ground. The other morning, I observed a mother eagle and two babies flying together in a distance. If they flew too low, she would swoop under them in order to be there if they needed her assistance. She would carry them on her back if need be. It is such a gorgeous sight to see from my living room window. Now to think that God is ready to do the same for us if and when we need assistance. He referred to it in verse 4. Before getting into that, let's focus on the conversation between God and Moses here.

The Israelites were making camp at the foot of the mountain, maybe some R & R. In the meanwhile, it was all business for Moses. He went up to Mt. Sinai and God called to him out of the mountain. (The Hebrew word for God in this chapter is Elohim, which refers to Him as Supreme God.

What was God's message to Moses?

• This is what he was to say to the house of Jacob and tell to the children of Israel. ("In employing this dual designation for the nation, the Lord reminded them of their humble beginnings as descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, who had been with them in Egypt, and their status now as a nation." MacArthur)
• They had seen (first hand) what God had done to the Egyptians.
• They saw how God carried them on eagles wings and brought them to Himself. ("Eagles were known to have carried their young out of the nests on their wings and taught them to fly, catching them when necessary on their outspread wings." MacArthur) Only one Lord did this. Any arrow of a hunter must pass through the mother eagle before it touched the young eagle. Other birds carry their young in their claws.
• Now if they would obey God fully and keep His covenant, then out of all the nations Israel would be God's treasured possession.
• Although the whole earth is God's, Israel would be for Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
• Those were the words Moses was to speak to the Israelites.

The Old Testament believers were carried with a high hand and outstretched arm of God (as eagles' wings). While New Testament believers in Christ are gathered by Jesus as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. (Matt. 23)

Several Psalms talk about being under the shadow of God's wings. The cherubims' wings are mentioned in Ezekiel and Exodus 25 at the Mercy Seat.

Sometimes we need to be reminded who we once were (sinners) and who we are now (children of God, believers in Jesus Christ, child of the King).
Do we still recall all the things God has done for us throughout all our years?
Are we learning to fly above our problems on God's wings?
Do we trust God as the young eagle trusts its mother as they fly high above the ground?

LET IT GROW


In Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, these statements are found:

1. God reminds His children what He had done for them. (verse 4) God is sovereign over all.
2. He tells them plainly what He expected and required from them; in one word, obedience.   (verse 5)
3. God  assures them of the honor He would put upon them, and the kindness He would show them, in case they did thus keep His covenant. (verses 5-6)

If the Israelites obeyed God's voice and kept His covenant, then and only them would He fulfill all the promises for protection and favor. The dispensation of law was clearly based on a conditional covenant. The quotation of part of verses 5 and 6 in 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelation 5:10 is by way of application and in no way indicates that the church has replaced Israel or taken over her promises. In Jeremiah 31:31, Israel was given a new covenant to replace the broken Sinaitic compact. The church participates only in the salvation aspects of the new covenant. (Falwell)

As I understand it all, it takes the Old Testament believers, the New Testament believers (church), and the Tribulation saints to complete God's Kingdom plan.
Do we strive to obey God's voice and keep His Word? Are we trying to please God?

LET IT GO

Wait upon the Lord; mount up with wings as eagles; run and not grow weary; walk and not faint.
(Is. 40:31)

Soar like an eagle, above my problems, trials.

Obey the Holy Spirit.

Keep God's Word in actions, words, and thoughts.