I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Exodus 19:4
On June 30, 1994, it was front-page news in the St. Louis "Post Dispatch" that the bald eagle, on the verge of extinction in the early 1970s, was removed from the government's endangered species list. It has been America's national symbol since 1782.
The remarkable comeback of the bald eagle as a species coincides with the Bible's statement that the eagle rejuvenates itself. David, in praise of the goodness of God, states, "[He] forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, [He] redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, [He] satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103:3-5). This is a wonderful tribute to the grace of God, who does all this for believers because of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen One.
Eagles are mentioned often in the Bible. They have qualities that invite comparison with the love, power, and providence of God. These qualities include the tender care of the young, the strength of their wings, the swiftness of their flight, and their keenness of sight. Through Moses God reminds the Israelites how He carried them "on eagles' wings" (Exodus 19:4) as He brought the people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. In a special song of praise Moses compares God's guardianship of Israel to the care of a parent eagle "that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions" (Deuteronomy 32:11).
In chapter 49 of his prophecy Jeremiah speaks of the Edomites "who occupy the heights of the hill ... [and] build [their] nest as high as the eagle's" (Jeremiah 49:16). God is the believer's refuge and strength. He guards His people from evil by establishing them in safe places and surrounding them with His love. For this we praise Him.
PRAYER: My soul, heart, and mind magnify You, Lord God, in thanks for Your goodness to me in Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 45-46 Romans 8:22-39
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