June 8, 2020 Exodus 19:2-4 …“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” vs. 4
From the Israelites’ perspective, their deliverance from slavery in Egypt was nothing short of miraculous and they told it again and again to their children and grandchildren. They loved to tell how God had ‘borne them on eagle’s wings’ and brought them to freedom. It was a fitting metaphor. Of all the birds we know there is none more majestic than the eagle, and our own American ancestors happily chose it as the symbol of our country. The image shows up again in Psalm 91 to remind all of us that God lifts us and protects us from every danger, keeping us safe in every circumstance. Those who live in the presence of illness and death are comforted when they imagine God’s powerful wings lifting them up and carrying them safely home. Even though we know perfectly well that God is a Spirit, our faith language craves pictures, and the image of the eagle touches our hearts in a powerful way. Every one of us would love to catch a ride and ride the air currents high into the sky, gliding and soaring effortlessly to those places we’ve never been before. And it’s really not a dream! This is what God does for us regularly, and one day we are promised a really spectacular final flight!
Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite metaphor for God?
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