SOARING LIKE EAGLES TO THE HEIGHTS OF GOD

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."  

Isaiah 40:28-31

Who hasn’t dreamed of flying like an eagle, high above all of the dangers on earth below and high above all our worries and concerns? Our God invites us to think like eagles in our waking hours.  Let us listen to His words that challenge us to let Him lift us high, soaring as on the wings of eagles.

In Isaiah 40:28-31, God is prophesying to the remnant who would be languishing in Babylonian captivity for 70 turbulent years.  The prophet Isaiah had predicted about 150 years before the captivity that the remnant would return home to restore and rebuild the Jewish nation. They would soar on the heights of joy in anticipation of the long-awaited journey home.  Their journey would be long, challenging, and dangerous before they could finally see their homeland again, for it was about 600 miles on foot.  Their efforts traveling that road would be strenuous even for their strong and vigorous youths.  Yet God promised them they could trust in Him alone, rise above the many obstacles of the journey, and soar on the wings of faith.

"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jer. 29:11; cf. 29:10-14)  

God’s children would be like eagles. Like these birds, they would be strong, confident, and majestic.  Eagles depend on the air's thermal currents to soar gracefully and spread their God-given wings to soar high and efficiently in the air despite the dangerous storms.  When the eagles rest, they dwell in the high, rocky clefts, for they trust them for protection.  God has made us soar to enormous heights while we walk our journey here on earth. Nevertheless, our life’s journey may be long and tiring. Our faith may grow tired, and our hope dim.  Thus, we must trust God to help us not become weary or feel defeated.  Our faith will allow us to look up to God and His Word for guidance and hope.

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." (Heb. 11:6)  

Our God dwells above the clouds where the sun always shines in the calm Light of eternity.  He can lift us up above our shadows and sorrows with His joyous Light.  Our steadfast faith will help us reach our home (Romans 10:17).  God can keep us from stumbling so that we can stand in His glorious presence (Jude 24-25).

We live in times when most people run in circles aimlessly and desperately seeking false fulfillment and purpose.  Meanwhile, our Creator is waiting patiently, stretching out His hands, calling us to come to Him.  But what do people do instead?  They long for the things of this world, rejecting God and His remedy.  How sad it is for them to refuse God and turn to Him instead of their own understanding to find rest for their weary souls!  A common saying is, “It’s hard to soar with eagles when running with the turkeys.”  With God, we “turkeys” can soar like eagles and fly above the mountains of life’s confusion, disappointments, weariness, and obstacles.  Indeed, our journey through life is challenging and exhausting!   We have to rest regularly to regain our strength.  We get up and move again.  And though getting up and moving is difficult, we must!  Then we must come to God to give us enough strength (Isa. 40:28-31).  God can strengthen and encourage the weary, for He never tires.  Even vigorous young men tire and stumble (Isa. 40:40).  Yet men place much emphasis on the physical body, worshiping fitness and youth!  They refuse to acknowledge that we will wear out even in our best physical condition.  Sadly this is the way the world thinks.  Today it is disturbing to see so many, young and old, battling depression, anger, discouragement, and lacking motivation and purpose in life.  Why?  Because sin has taken them captive and made them very weak, though they strive to worship fitness and youth.

They reject what Jesus said,

“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).  

Hebrews 4:1-3 urges us by saying,

“Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest”  

So, are you willing to enter the rest God offers you at no cost?  It is a rest that can renew and strengthen us spiritually so that we can mount up with wings like an eagle, to soar God’s heights in this life instead of trudging onward from one day to the next.  God warns us constantly not to look to the pleasures of this world, for they will never lead us to righteousness and God’s ways.  God wants all men to seek Him diligently, searching His Word and His Ways to find rest in Him and soar His heavenly heights.  Are you resting in the Lord so that you can soar with Him?

There is a lot that we can learn from the eagle.  God wants us to soar on wings like an eagle, so let’s learn something from this majestic creature. Consider how the eagle is made.


I.   TRAITS OF THE EAGLE AND OUR CHRISTIAN WALK:

• An Analogy of The Eagle:

In Isaiah 40:31, God has given us a specific analogy of the eagle.  God wants us to study the eagles' traits so that we might learn something about our walk with Him.  Did you know that eagles can soar without actually flapping their wings?  They spread their wings straight out and soar easily on the wind currents.

•   An Eagle Has to Be Born an Eagle:  

Eagles are born with big and heavy wings.  Part of the survival mechanism they are born with is that they must learn how to fly without flapping their big wings.  They have to learn to do this to conserve energy.  They may actually die if they waste too much energy flapping their wings while flying instead of soaring without flapping their wings.  Eagles must learn this ability early so they can soar without flapping their wings.  They learn to wait for thermal winds to come upon them.  Thermal wind is a big gust of wind that rises up in the atmosphere.  Sometimes eagles remain perched for days before they encounter a good and strong thermal wind, on which they can launch and combine flapping and soaring on that strong wind thermal to ride them where they want to go.  God compares us to eagles.  The wings of the eagles represent our faith in God.  Just like the eagle must learn to fly on the wind thermals, we must be born again of a different Father.  We can never become children of God unless we have a new birth. Crows and canaries will never become eagles!

In John 3:3-5, Jesus declared,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 4 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’ 5 Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”

Ezekiel 36:25-27,

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”  

1 Peter 1:23,

“Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”  

Like the eagle that must learn to catch the wind thermals to survive, we must be born of water and the Spirit to enter His kingdom and accomplish everything God wants us to do for Him in this life.  And as the eagle must learn how to ride and navigate on those wind thermals once they launch onto them, we must learn how to walk according to God’s will.  When we learn to walk by the Spirit, we can go where God wants us to.  He will lead us into His paths of righteousness, but we must be born again (John 3:3-5).  We must have faith to be born of the water and the Spirit to take flight and serve God.  The eagle has to take that big leap off the cliff's edge to fly and soar on the wind. If the eagle does not take flight on the thermal updraft when it comes upon him, he will forever stay perched and starve to death perched on the cliff. In the same way, if we refuse to be born again to be part of God’s kingdom and righteousness, we will perish and die eternally without the hope of salvation. And just as the wings of the eagle are the only thing that will allow them to soar, in the same way, the only thing that will enable us to soar to the heights of God is our steadfast faith in the Lord.  Faith is vital for God to guide us and give us the strength to reach His heights of salvation.

• Eagles Are Master Fliers:

Eagles are master fliers because they have learned to soar on strong wind thermals. They can fly to heights that no other bird can. They can fly as high as airplanes!  Their ability and skill to ride on these strong wind thermals and fly high are unique!!  In the same way, we Christians must learn through God’s Word how to be master fliers daily.  Just as eagles depend on these strong winds to lift them to heights no other bird can reach, we Christians must diligently seek God through His Word so that He may take us to heights that we may have never dreamed possible.  Just think how much fruit we could produce and the works we may accomplish for the Lord if we just study His Word, allowing that same Word to lead our steps unto righteousness daily!  But we must be humble and willing to be taught by God to walk in righteousness.  The Word of God is powerful and can fully equip us with every good work to accomplish what God wants us to do.

• Eagles Are Master Fisherman:

Eagles are also considered master fishermen, for they are skilled in locking in on their prey and swooping down to catch them. Eagles can easily and accurately swoop down on the water to pick up fish.  They are definitely masters at hunting down their prey.  And just as eagles are master fishermen in how they catch their fish, Jesus has made us “fishers of men.” Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples of all the nations.  God has commanded that we be fishermen of souls to save them and help them enter the gates of God’s kingdom.

• Eagles Fly Alone:

Though eagles mate for life,  they fly alone for the most part. As Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ, where the little finger is just as important as the big toe.  David was alone when he fought Goliath, for no one would step onto the battlefield with him when he fought that giant. Peter was alone when he stepped out of the boat to walk on water.  The rest of the apostles were too scared to try. Moses was alone for 40 years in the desert before God called him out to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.  David hid in caves from Saul for several years before he was finally called out to become the greatest king of Israel.  Sometimes we Christians feel very much alone, and everything seems dark and difficult, but we must keep pressing on toward our goal and fly alone like the eagles.  God will be with us as we soar above the earth, giving us the strength and courage to win and accomplish the tasks He has given us.

• Eagles Live on Higher Ground:

Eagles live on higher ground for the most part. As Christians, we live on higher ground because of who we are in Christ compared to the world lost in darkness.  We are born-again children of the Most High God. We are now kings and priests of the Lord. We have God's Word to help us walk in righteousness and holiness.  And though we live in this world, we are not of this world, for we must keep ourselves separate from the corruption, lawlessness, pollution, vices, and sins of this world so God can commune with us and we with Him.  We live on higher ground because of what Jesus did for us and because we have obeyed His Gospel.

• Eagles Are Extremely Bold, Courageous, and Powerful:

Another compelling trait of the eagle is its boldness, courage, and strength.  God commands Christians to be mighty soldiers of His Son.  He wants us to put on His armor to engage in our spiritual war.  Just like the eagle who has no fear of any man, beast, or snake, we Christians must have no fear of anything or anyone, for we have God on our side fighting for us.  Greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world! David perfectly proved this when he fought Goliath and won.  So we must learn from the eagles, for they are the most powerful and feared. We Christians must be mighty and courageous soldiers of Christ to fight for Him and His kingdom.

• Eagles Are Majestic:

Eagles are majestic and invincible because of the way they look and act.  They have the look of royalty.  In the same way, we Christians have the look of royalty since we are kings and priests of the Lord when we obey the Gospel.  This majestic royalty we now have comes from partaking of God’s divine nature through Jesus. It all comes from Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins.  Through Jesus’ blood, we are forgiven of our sins and made kings and priests in God’s Kingdom of righteousness.

• Eagles Are Faithful For Life:

Eagles are faithful and loyal to their mates for life. In the same way, God wants us to stay faithful, loyal, and devoted to our vows and commitments to our Lord at the wedding altar. God takes marriage and the vows that come with it very seriously, and it is nothing to be trifled with or taken for granted when we hit minor bumps in marriage.  God can help us through His Word and heal any hurts or misgivings that may have occurred in our marriages or whatever is broken in our lives.  Yes, He can heal us and mend our lives!

• Eagles Are Very Patient:

Another fascinating trait of the eagles is their patience.   Take, for instance, how eagles spot rabbits to target as prey.  Once the rabbit senses danger, he sometimes hides in a hole for as long as an hour or two before he finally returns.  The eagle will wait for that long until the rabbit finally returns.  Once he does, the eagle will swoop down and catch him within a few seconds. The eagle is rewarded with a big fat meal because of its patience.  In the same way, we Christians must be patient and longsuffering in doing good, doing the will of our Father here on earth to be rewarded with heaven. Longsuffering or patience is one of the nine Holy Spirit fruits we must practice to enter the kingdom of heaven and receive our heavenly reward.  We also need this patience to weather the storms of life and not be defeated.

• Eagles Can Anticipate When A Storm Is Approaching:

Did you know an eagle can anticipate a storm approaching long before it happens? The eagle will fly to some high spot to wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.  Isn’t that remarkable? While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above. It does not escape the storm but simply uses the storm to lift it higher.  It rises on the winds that bring the storm! What an extraordinary way to deal with adversity!!  What a wonderful lesson for us, God’s children, to learn!  We can learn so much from the eagle about approaching a storm! The way that the eagle rises above the storm teaches us that we must rise above the storms of life when they come upon us fiercely.  With God’s help, we can lift ourselves above adversity by setting our minds and hearts toward God and His kingdom of righteousness.  

The storms of life must not overcome us any more than they overcome the eagle.  We can allow God’s power and strength to lift us above them.  Our storms or trials of life can help us in our walk of faith. Our faith is strengthened, refined, and built up when it goes through the fire. It is for our good, and we must accept the storms of life!  The apostle Paul reassured the Corinthians, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  Amen to that!!  

When the eagle soars above the storm, he is overcoming and enduring it.  He uses the strength of the storm to soar above it.  Isn’t that remarkable!!  Our God wants us to do the same when adversity strikes, for we can use adversity for gain.  But we must learn to fly to the heights of God when we fall into trials, that we may grow and become better Christians (James 1:2-3).  God has promised to help us “escape” our trials (1 Corinthians 10:13). He urges us to flee when we can (Matthew 10:23). Trials must be confronted and endured (2 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 12:7). We must face everything that challenges our faith and be determined to grow in virtue.  God is looking for overcomers!   He has promised us saying,  “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  (Revelation 3:21)

• The Eagle Has 2 Sets of Eyes:

Another fascinating trait of the eagles is their two sets of eyes. The first set is their natural eye, which they have when they are in resting mode.  However, when they start taking flight on these strong thermal winds, they have a second eye that comes into service. This second eye lets them fly on these winds without damaging their original eye.  This second eye is also used when flying through actual storm clouds. The heavy winds from a storm cloud can easily damage their natural eye. Thus this second eye gives them a protective covering as they navigate through heavy storm clouds. Did you know that eagles can see fish swimming from several hundred feet above the water?  Eagles, like all birds, have color vision. Their eyes are as large as humans, but their sharpness is at least four times greater than that of a human with perfect vision. The eagle can identify a rabbit moving almost a mile away. That means that an eagle flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet could spot prey over an area of nearly 3 square miles from a fixed position. How amazing is the vision of an eagle!  

As Christians, we also have two sets of eyes. The first set is our normal, natural eye, which we use to see our natural world. However, we also have a second set of eyes, God's eyes, to see things from His perspective.  As we draw closer to Him, wanting to do His will, we can see the things of God revealed in His Word.  We start loving and seeing God’s Truth for what it is and apply it in every compartment of our lives.  By doing this, we see things through God’s eyes, His point of view, and perspective.  By seeing things through God’s eyes, we begin to love the Truth and allow it to set us free from sin.  So we must diligently seek to have the eyes of God’s Truth to lead us to newness of life and live. Just as the eagle needs his two sets of eyes to survive and live in this world, we also need our God-given eyes and His eyes of righteousness to obey Him and do His will to be saved.

• The Nests of Eagles Are Built in the Wilderness:

The mother eagle builds her nest away from everything to raise her newborns in the wilderness when the eagles are first hatched.  She does this to protect them from harm.  In the same way, the Lord will sometimes build up His eagles in a wilderness-type setting.  For instance, Moses lived in the desert for 40 years before God called him out to complete the greatest deliverance mission of all time.  David was in the caves of the wilderness for many years, possibly for 13-15 years, before God called him out to become the greatest king that Israel had ever had.  What about us Christians?  The Lord calls us to be set apart from the world, some kind of spiritual wilderness, to raise us up, and allow us to grow up, that we might be devoted to Him and serve Him.  Often, in these wilderness-type settings, our God helps us grow spiritually and helps us walk upright.

• Eagles Have Contrasting Color Patterns – Noticeable From a Distance:

God’s creatures have been created with different color patterns that blend in with their natural surroundings to protect them from other predators.  However, this is not the case with the eagles.  Take, for instance, the American bald eagle with dark brown feathers and a white head. As a result of this contrasting color pattern, they can easily be seen from quite a distance. Similarly, we Christians are called to be the Light and salt of this earth to be noticeable from a distance, the world. The world must see the Light in us, Christ radiating in our lives.  As we walk closely with God, doing His will, being renewed and transformed, people will see the Gospel working in our lives, for our faith and works will stand out as a result of walking God’s ways of righteousness.  And just as the eagle stands out in its environment because of its might, ability, and contrasting color pattern in the animal kingdom, we must also stand out in a world of darkness, radiating with His Light to show His beauty living in us.  Jesus is our Light, and He shines through us, so we must always shine and not hide our Light under a cover.  We must let His Light shine through us to reach the rest of those lost in darkness because of sin with His Gospel Message of salvation!

• The Mother Eagle Disciplines Her Eaglets:

A mother eagle builds her nest on the face of a cliff and puts it in a safe place for her eaglets to be nurtured. She makes her nest with great skill and care. Her nest has to be large enough for her eaglets.  She builds it with branches that must be intertwined to make it strong.  Once the branches are woven, she lines it with feathers and grass to make it soft. Once she lays and hatches her eggs, she has an endless task of going off on delivery missions to feed her baby birds. She goes back and forth to perch on the edge of the nest and feed the eaglets one by one.  The mother eagle always knows which eaglet was fed last.  She feeds the one that has waited for the longest without food, even when they’re moved around. She feeds and nourishes them continually. 

But there is something different that she must do to help her baby birds learn to fly.  She hovers about 3 feet above the nest instead of resting on the side of her nest.  Did you know that eagles can hover like hummingbirds?  She shows her eaglets that they must learn to use their wings to move around.  After hovering for a time, she moves down into her nest and starts teaching her little eaglets how to fly.  She snuggles up against her little ones and begins to lightly nudge them to the edge of the nest.  She keeps nudging them to the edge until they fall out of their nest.  They seem to be going down to their destruction, but as quick as a flash, this mother eagle swoops down to catch them on her back.  She brings them safely back to their nest.  Did you know that this process must be done with each eaglet?  Why would the mother eagle do that?  Do you suppose she doesn't love her eaglets?  Not at all!  And though the mother eagle wants her babies to feel secure and comfortable, she must go through this process to help them learn how to fly, for they were made to fly, and it is their nature!

God does the same thing to us, for He must discipline us for our own good (Hebrews 12).  When the mother eagle sees that her eaglets don’t fly yet after this first stage, she moves into the next one and starts making her eaglets’ life miserable.  She starts taking away the nest's soft lining and continues pulling the nest apart.  Now, don’t you think it would be uncomfortable for her baby birds to be in that nest?  But she must continue until there is nothing left of the nest!

In Deuteronomy 32:11-12, we read, “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, 12 the Lord alone guided him, no foreign god was with him.”

Did you know that God allowed the children of Israel to experience all those stages?  God works in this way with us as well.  Sometimes our God casts us out. God kicks us away to remove our securities, which we count on so much.  God must force us out of our nest.  Why would God do that?  Does He not care for us?  He does care!  He does that because He wants us to soar, fly high, to become what He wants us to be, what we were meant to be.  He did not make us to be chickens or turkeys, for we were made to soar His heights!

• Eagles Fly Different Than Other Birds:

Many birds flap their wings to fly with furious movements.  Eagles don’t do this. They soar! God has made them with an instinctive ability to anticipate air currents and thermals. They lock their wings to travel the thermals, the wind currents. They can soar up and down with minimal movement.  Isaiah 40:29-31 states that God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

An eagle knows when a storm is drawing near long before it happens.  The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, the eagle sets its wings for the wind to pick it up and lift it above the storm.  The eagle is soaring above while the storm is raging below.  And though the eagle does not escape the storm, it uses the storm to lift it higher, for it rides on the winds that bring the storm. Isaiah compares us to eagles. He says that God blesses us and helps us ride the winds of our storms of sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down but how we handle them.  Even though the storms of life come upon us, we can still rise above them by setting our minds and faith in God. The storms must not overcome us. We must allow God’s power and strength to lift us above them.  And though the storms of life might affect us, we can rest assured that they will help us grow in Grace and Knowledge, just like Job, Joseph, David, and many other great heroes of faith.

• An Eagle Knows Its Approaching Death:

When an eagle knows its death is approaching, it will leave its nest, fly off to a rock and fasten its talons to the edge of the rock.  It will look straight into the sunset and wait there to die!  Have you ever seen an eagle die? Although I haven’t seen one die, I have seen many soldiers of Christ, men, and women, die.  Faithful men and women who were fastened to the Rock of Christ, for they were looking into the sun of righteousness!!  Many faithful Christians have died in pain and agony throughout history but have died with the hope of eternity.  It is sad to see so many people die without Christ and the hope of eternity! 

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”  (1 Thess. 4:13-18)

II.   HOW TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE WITH GOD:

Eagles are among the very few animals that inspire and fascinate us with awe.  Isn’t it amazing, powerful, and graceful to watch these amazing creatures soar across the sky!  It is really awe-inspiring!  Moses compared God to an eagle in his final words to the Israelites.

"He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions,  the Lord alone guided him, no foreign god was with him."  (Deuteronomy 32:10-12) 

While many focus on the eagle’s strength and power, Moses focuses on its gentleness. There is more to the eagle than meets the eye! Eagles can easily serve as a metaphor for God’s love. Eagles are characterized by their strength, tenacity, keen vision, swiftness of flight, intelligence, loyalty, and many other excellent attributes.  But what is unique about these birds of prey is the tenderness they show their young.  Eagle parents nurture and vigilantly watch over their young. During incubation, one parent always remains in the nest to provide warmth and protection for their baby eaglets. The other parent hunts, supplies food and keeps a watchful eye, a pattern that continues after the eaglet hatches.   Notice what the Scriptures say about God and the eagle.

“Like a parent eagle tenderly meeting every need, so the Lord of hosts hovers over his people, protects us (Isaiah 31:5), provides for our every need (Phil. 4:19), and never, ever leaves or forsakes us (Deut. 31:6).”

When God brought His people from Egyptian bondage, He showed His power.  God sent plagues of judgment on the Egyptians to devastate them.  Imagine how the mighty world power of that time was brought to its knees as God’s plagues began to destroy them! They even lost their precious jewels and gold.  God spoke to His people at Mt. Sinai, saying, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto Myself” (Ex. 19:4). Of course, they were not plucked by an eagle to deliver them from bondage, but with God’s help, they certainly fly out of that land, as on the wings of a majestic eagle. Moses taught Israel to sing a song to God for their deliverance from Egyptian slavery.  The song describes the way the eagles taught the young eagles to fly.  The older eagles drifted away from their nest, encouraging the eagles to leave the safety of their nest.  “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions” (Deut. 32:11).  The way the young eagles learn to soar is also how God deals with us, for His eyes are over us, and His ears are wide open to listen to our prayers.

God knows our needs even before we make them known to Him.  He has promised to answer our fervent prayers when we ask Him.  As the eagle takes its young and places them on its back, so our God carries us.  He has promised those who wait on Him to renew their strength, mount up with wings like eagles, run, never be weary, and walk and not faint. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.  But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).  The conclusion of chapter 40 is one of the most encouraging Scriptures in the Old Testament.  Consider some essential points from these verses.

• God Reminds Us of Our Need for Him By Humbling Us: 

We must be humble to let God lift us.  “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up”  (James 4:10).  Just as lift results from air pressure changes, God lifts us by changing our perspective in the storm and reversing the dynamics of our circumstances for good.  We must trust in God, who is all-powerful and greater, rather than allow the pressures of our problems to crush us. With God on our side, His love and strength, we can renew our hope and courage, rising up even when everything seems so hopeless and dark. We must be humble to allow God to sustain us. “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4).  In the same way that an eagle needs the assistance of air currents and winds to maintain altitude, we need God’s help to continue soaring His heights.  With the wind of His Spirit in us and the warmth of His love surrounding us, we can rise above everything and soar the heights with Him.  In times of war, the young soldier must use his physical strength to win.  He will have to face times of disappointment, heartache, faint-heartedness, fear, and temptation.  Will he arise or soar to the challenge of his faith?  And though at times we, like the soldier, feel as if God has abandoned us, we must still put on the armor God that He provides to win our spiritual battle (Eph. 6:10-17).

As long as we depend on our knowledge and strength, we will flap just to stay on top of things.  Instead of scraping, scrambling, and struggling, Christians have the blessing of flying high with our God. God wants to release us from our struggles, something that unbelievers cannot have. Jesus urges us, “Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’  For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek’” (Matthew 6:31-32).  The unbelievers are constantly exhausted and frustrated!   In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said that things such as worry, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things will be detrimental to our spiritual growth (Mark 4:19).  Yet, men often forget that those things that affect their spiritual growth will also affect their physical and emotional health.  Worry, fear, and sin, in general, will take their toll.  But God’s children will find spiritual strength, enthusiasm, optimism, and joy to endure.

• We Must Acknowledge That God Is All-Powerful:

God gives strength to the weak and is there to help!  (Isa. 40:29).  He will provide strength in our hour of temptation.  He will provide endurance for our trials.  He will provide steadfastness for the faint-hearted.  His help is continuously available for us, for He “neither faints nor is weary”  (Isa.40:28).  There is no God like Him!  “The Lord is the everlasting God!” We wear out, but God does not! God gives power to the faint. He gives strength to those who have no might. Even those who think they have power and strength, such as the young, wear out and fall exhausted. God does not wear out, for He is always at work! We must stop working when we are weary. The Lord is the everlasting God, for He is not bound by time.  We live for right now. But God does not.  He will do His work as He sees fit when it is convenient for Him.  Thus, we cannot argue or counsel God, for He is the everlasting and Almighty One!  God gives power to the weak and faint. The weak and faint are those in verse 27 who think that God does not see or care about their circumstances.  And though Israel was going into exile, God still cared deeply for them and their circumstances.  God acted on behalf of the nation of Israel and cares for us as well.  Human strength is not the power we need, for human strength fails and becomes weak. But God does not get weary or weak!

• God Has Promised to give us Strength and Help Us:

Strength is available to all but can only be accessed by those who desire it.  God offers strength only to those who seek after Him. They will mount up with wings like eagles (Isa. 40:31).  The higher we soar, the less weary we will feel, for we shall run and not be weary. We will feel “young” again!  Although we may have hills to climb, rivers to ford, and daily obligations to attend to, our God has promised to help us!   Eagles are defenders.  The eagle builds its nest nearby and defends it from a potential predator.  The Bible teaches us that the Lord is our Defender (Psalm 46:1). He is our rock and salvation (2 Samuel 22:3-4).  We can take comfort in knowing He will always protect and help His children.  Our faith is like flight for an eagle, essential to survive and thrive.  The Word of God teaches us that those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31). For us, this is more than a promise of strength and renewal. It is a testimony of God’s compassion and love for us.  He is a mighty God who knows our names and will never forsake us. Thus, we must wait upon Him in prayer and meditation on His Word! 

We find a beautiful promise in verse 31. “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint”   We are called to wait upon the promises of God to be fulfilled.  We must wait for the Lord to accomplish His purposes.  This is how our strength is renewed. God will do as He has said, for He has the power to fulfill His purpose. Nothing can stop Him. So we must wait for the Lord to find the strength to soar on wings like eagles and run and not be weary or grow faint. We must find our strength and hope in the Lord so that we do not grow weary. God’s understanding is limitless! We must live by His promises and submit to Him in faith rather than trying to figure God out. God can only strengthen those who wait for Him to fulfill His promises. Waiting is what faith does until God’s answer arrives!

When we are committed to following the Lord and doing what He says, we “shall mount up with wings like an eagle.”  Those who wait on the Lord shall be made new and strengthened spiritually. They can endure and do greater things for the Lord, providing more meaning to their life. Although the eagles can soar for long periods, they must rest to soar again. This is a parallel thought to waiting on the Lord. We must find rest in the Lord to be renewed and strengthened to mount up and soar again.  Eagles take time to preen their feathers while they’re perched and resting.  They need to make sure that all the feathers on their wings are in place and ready to go at any moment.  In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes about being ready to run and box so that he may win and not be disqualified,

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable [prize]. Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Cor 9:24-27) 

Satan and the world will try to discourage us from winning at all costs, but we must preen ourselves, exercise self-control, and buffet our bodies to soar to the heights of God.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to run and not grow weary? God wants us to run, soar like an eagle, and not grow weary.  With God’s help and strength, we can soar with the wings of an eagle to new levels!


CONCLUSION:

God’s care for His creation is amazing!  Take, for instance, His care for the birds and His clothing of the lily as described in the Sermon on the Mount.  In that Sermon, Jesus spoke of God’s care for the birds who don’t sow and reap, yet God is still very much involved in their lives. God has shown us all this to help us understand Him and His providential care.  Just take a look at the eagles that God created.  In Proverbs 30:19, we are told that there are things that surpass our ability to comprehend.  One of those things mentioned is the way of an eagle in the air.  Imagine how men have watched birds soaring in the air for thousands of years, yet man began to fly just a hundred years ago. Isn’t the majesty of the eagle remarkable!  Isn’t Isaiah 40:28-31 a refreshing thought for us!  When I contemplate our power as His children, it is mind-blowing to me!  Although we might grow weary, God never does.  What a powerful truth!  God is all-powerful, and He never gets tired.  He never gives up on delivering the righteous or punishing the wicked!  Nothing can stop His purposes.  “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" (Romans 11:33)  God cannot be out-argued or out-planned. There is no room for loopholes!

Our LORD has intended for us to soar above the heights. He wants His children to see everything from a higher perspective. We are to soar the heights and depths of His everlasting peace. We soar His heights when we diligently seek Him and His ways, allowing Him to mold us into His image. We soar when we keep our eyes fixed on Him and heaven, forgetting this earth's pleasures. We soar when we willingly trust in His rich goodness. We soar when we let our hearts be restored by Him.  Our main goal is to do better, live better, constantly learn, and seek a higher and better path. We are to soar like the eagles who dare to soar higher without being concerned about the approval of men. Our goal must be higher than the goals of the majority!  As His children, we cannot afford to be like chickens who peck at the ground with eyes fixed on the earth and earthly things, being satisfied with a life that merely focuses on scratching in the dirt.  The only way we will soar is by seeking His wisdom and understanding.  We must do this to live a life based on His foundation.  In doing this, we will soar like eagles, basking in the Light of His Truth that shines like the sun high above the clouds. We can rise to such heights only when we eat from the table He has laid for us: His table of forgiveness, love, the perfection of our souls, healing, restoration, gentleness, and the meekness of His Spirit. A table that is set for us for eternity.

Sadly, we fall to earth and are hurt when we reject God’s bountiful and divine table.  Only at this table can we be nourished well enough to soar to the heights of God. Focusing on man's approval will turn us away from God’s higher plans.  Why? Because we forget that there is hard work, discipline, and dying to self.  We must trust Him completely to catch the powerful thermals of God.  Did you know that eagles do not fear heights? They soar courageously, trusting in God's power to be under their wings. They know they will not fall to the earth while relying on God.  There, high above the clouds of glory, we find freedom in doing God's ways. This freedom makes our hearts thrill with a vast and deeper peace than the ocean. But, there is one thing to always remember. Soaring in God's freedom is not meant to be momentary but eternal. Otherwise, the fall would be a quick fall to the ground.

We can soar above our problems and be content because we know that there is much more to life than the things of this world (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).  We can soar because we know that God is behind the scenes working for us, for He has the power to turn any hardship or adversity into success (Romans 8:28).  We can soar because we know that the trials we have to endure will only bring stronger character and refine our faith.  Our future lies on the other side of any trial! (Romans 5:3-5).  We soar to the heights of God because we know that God is in control and we can depend on Him entirely. We don’t need to rely on our own cleverness and wisdom.  We can soar with God because His goodness and mercy follow us (Psalm 23:6).  We can soar confidently because we know that our past sins have been forgiven and don’t have the power to take all our joy (Psalm 103:3-5).  We can soar high because, with God on our side, nothing is as bad and hopeless as it might seem (Romans 11:2-5).  We can soar because we know that God is looking out for us and protecting us (Romans 8:31).  We can definitely run and not get tired, for we know that our efforts in the Lord are not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).  The more we are involved in God’s work, spreading the Gospel, the stronger we become.  And though our outer man may wear out and get old, our inner man is renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).  Thus, we can soar when we are much older because we are getting closer to heaven, so we must motivate the young to be fruitful and have the character that makes them rejoice.

So, we must wait on the Lord and rest in the Lord.  We need to walk in the Spirit to soar with the Lord. We are not on this journey alone; we have the church all on the same quest. May we fellowship and work together to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).  So let's run together to mount up on wings like eagles and serve the Lord faithfully.

With this in mind, let's never forget that Jesus died to break the chains of sin and darkness that would prevent us from soaring to the heights of God.  We must follow the example of the eagles who always look above and see how high they can soar because they know and are confident they are not bound to the earth, pecking on it like chickens. We are commanded by God to soar higher! It is His intention for us.  So, since the chains of sin and darkness are broken through our Lord Jesus, let's start soaring the heights of God today!

"Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?" (Job 39:27)

May we always remember that our Lord Jesus died to break the chains of sin and darkness so that we could soar to His heights.  May we always purpose to soar higher to find freedom from sin and have everlasting life with Him.

Luci

Saints, Lift Your Voices

(On Wings of Flight)

By Donald M. Alexander

There is none like Him; 

None can compare; 

No god His equal, 

No Prince His heir!

Have no not known Him?  

Have you not heard?  

God is Creator of all the earth.

Some will grow weary, 

Sin they'll pursue.  

Servants of God, 

their pow'r He'll renew.

Chorus,

Saints, lift your voices, though dark your days!

Lift up your spirits, sing out His praise!

Upward the calling, brighter the Light!

Soaring like eagles on wings of flight!