On Eagles Wings

My nephew, who has been battling cancer, gave one of the best answers to a question that was asked him.   The man asked, “Do you know where you’re going after this?”  He said, “I’m going to heaven.”  The thought-provoking question followed, “How are you getting there?”   Without hesitation, he said, “On the wings of eagles.”   I can’t think of a better answer.  Other true and accurate answers could have been given but to respond in this way reminds us of God’s promise to go with us as David reminds us in Psalm 23:4 that reads, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.  God has never promised His people to prevent trouble, hardships, or even temptations or trials.  But, He has promised that he would go with us or not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to bear (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13).   This image is the comfort of God carrying His people on His wings.  Deuteronomy 32:11 reads, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.”  When Israel was delivered out of Egyptian bondage with the mighty hand of God, He is described by an eagle that bore them on His wings,  It reads, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself.”   Isaiah, the prophet explains in Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.

This description of eagles carrying their young on their wings is the king of birds called the nesher.   We assume that the nesher is the eagle, and some of the commentaries identify it as such, but the evidence reveals that it is most likely a vulture.  There may be situations when the young bird would rest for a while on the back of its mother, especially when there was no roosting place to land.   Another situation might exist when they may nest on the ledge of a walled canyon where nothing exists to break the fall.   In such a case, the mother may quickly offer her back to a frightened fledgling.    A third situation would occur when the mother is teaching her young to fly.  Whether courageously jumping or being gently pushed over,  the mother would often swoop under it to give confidence that they are under the watchful and able care of the mother.   God is similar with His children.  When he or she fearlessly takes on a challenge, God is there to catch us.  When we tire and can no longer hold ourselves up, he’s there to bear our weight to renew our strength.  When delivering us from an insurmountable trial, he will swoop us away on his wings to safety.   Finally, in the day of our death, we will be carried to a place of perfect bliss as in the bosom of Abraham (cf. Luke 16:19-31) where we are sheltered and protected by his great and fearless wings!

Our God is good… and supremely able to deliver!