Last night, on a birthday gift that I received, a bible verse stood out.
Today, during my morning bible reading, a particular verse got me thinking some more.
So there was a splendid iconographic representation of Isaiah 40:31 on the T-shirt,
while my bible-reading of Exodus 19 caught my extended attention in verse 4.
A quick reference to the bible tells us we're talking about the majestic bird: the Eagle.
Throughout history, the eagle has been viewed as a symbol of Power, Independence and Beauty.
From being state symbols to emblems and coat-of-arms, from being crests in academia and postage stamps to graffiti art imprints on T-shirts, the Eagle has left an indelible mark on mankind.
Chile, Egypt, Mexico, Poland, Romania are but some countries which have the eagle in their coat-of-arms.
French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte adopted the Roman golden eagle as the symbol of his empire.
Of course, the ancient Romans had the standards of its armies emblazoned with the bird while USA has bald eagle as its national emblem.
Perhaps it is the fixation on the ideals of Sovereignty, Power, Independence and Strength;
or it could well be that the eagle has an inexplicable charm in the graceful swiftness of its being that causes it to be so highly recognized around the world.
In Christianity, the noble bird also happens to be an allegory for God and his Power. In Deuteronomy 32:9~12, God is described as a parent that watches keenly over his children. The emphasis is in verse 11, where God being the eagle, “stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings”.
Reading Exodus 19 this morning reminded me of the struggles and trials that the Israelites were put through before they participated in the exodus. As I read verse 4, it struck me how much God held on to His children’s hands and guided them along, so often forgiving them, so often enlightening them.
God spoke to Moses, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”
At that juncture, unbeknownst to the entire nation of Israel, God was preparing to confer His Holy Edict in stone.
We now know them by their more celebrated term: the 10 Commandments.
I found it especially meaningful that God described the journey to the foot of Mount Sinai as Him bearing Israel on eagle’s wings.
While they grumbled because of their very-human fears, to God, it was Him that was bearing their sorrows and toils.
Reading up on the majestic bird, I found out its flight pattern.
When an eagle spreads its wings and takes flight in the air, it flaps its wings strongly. Underneath the clouds in the sky, there is an updraft needed for soaring.
The pressure from the updraft under its wings, and the pressure above caused by the downdraft produces the lift necessary for flight.
When we understand that God designed the eagle’s wings for soaring, we see how with outstretched wings, it can float on the updraft to further heights.
It is important that the first few flaps before take-off are strong so that it can gain enough lift into the air. Considering this, it becomes clearer that there will be certain troubles and setbacks in the early stages of any task.
When we are faced with a new test from God, it definitely will be hard to overcome the temptations that the devil throws in as a package.
When we are faced with tribulation, the first singular thought often is to give up. But when we overcome these, we rise up higher and further, the updraft will continue to lift us to God.
Marvelously, the updraft is the power from the Holy Spirit.
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians,”…
This line kept surfacing in my head.
Have I really seen and understood what God has done to my adversaries?
I find that I often fail to give thanks for His grace and mercy upon my sinful being.
How often have I complained and grumbled at the first instance of my plans being thwarted.
I've also neglected to see how he bore me on His wings, choosing instead to see the hardship and trials for what they shouldn’t be worth.
It is no wonder that I often veil my own sight, thinking that I had not been brought before the LORD.
How do you relate to the majesty of the LORD God? Do you see Him bearing you on His wings?
God truly understands our human failings and limitations and with His immortal Word, He exhorts and comforts us through the utterance of prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah comforted God’s people when they despaired.
He spoke the oracle of hope and future renewal in Isaiah 40:30~31. Agreeing with the fact that youths and young men are imperfect, he says that “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall”.
Nevertheless, the chance of hope for restoration exists and
“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.”
A slight variation exists here in that this time when we have waited on the LORD, we are not borne on His wings.
Instead, we rise up and fly like the eagle.
In spite of all our sins and shortcomings, God fully acknowledges us as His Children, allowing us to soar higher to His standard of perfection, and We become like the majestic bird.
How wonderful is that! Moreover, it fully resonates with the truth in Deuteronomy 32:9~10 -
9“For the LORD’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
10 “He found him in a desert land
And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of His eye.”
We are the spiritual Jacobs!
We are His precious portion!
In us He dwells with His precious Holy Spirit.
If there should be a catch to this regal status of ours, it is only this:
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” (Exodus 19:5)
– To indeed obey God, to keep His commandment. It is always simple to say it in theory, yet I so often fail to do so.
I have disappointed God on so many occasions, perhaps you feel the same way too?
I can identify with the despondency and guilt that Israel must have felt in days of Isaiah, I’m sure you understand what I mean as well?
I pray and get up on my knees to meet with setbacks and temptations, only to give in so easily. Maybe you can agree with me too?
Let us understand the eagle’s flight pattern for it is such a valuable lesson for us. We really need the power from sincere prayer to be the updraft for our flight. We may be weary, but let us take heart that God Himself will give us strength, for when He finds us in our "desert land and howling wilderness", He will "encircle" us and "instruct" us, only because when we've kept His commandments, we are the "apple of His eye" (Deut 32:10).
As the sun sets on my birthday today, I thank God for His everlasting blessings.
Much like the eagle print on my T-shirt gift, I hope to live out His promise to me and fly like the eagle.
May you have the same hope as well.
Today, during my morning bible reading, a particular verse got me thinking some more.
So there was a splendid iconographic representation of Isaiah 40:31 on the T-shirt,
while my bible-reading of Exodus 19 caught my extended attention in verse 4.
A quick reference to the bible tells us we're talking about the majestic bird: the Eagle.
Throughout history, the eagle has been viewed as a symbol of Power, Independence and Beauty.
From being state symbols to emblems and coat-of-arms, from being crests in academia and postage stamps to graffiti art imprints on T-shirts, the Eagle has left an indelible mark on mankind.
Chile, Egypt, Mexico, Poland, Romania are but some countries which have the eagle in their coat-of-arms.
French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte adopted the Roman golden eagle as the symbol of his empire.
Of course, the ancient Romans had the standards of its armies emblazoned with the bird while USA has bald eagle as its national emblem.
Perhaps it is the fixation on the ideals of Sovereignty, Power, Independence and Strength;
or it could well be that the eagle has an inexplicable charm in the graceful swiftness of its being that causes it to be so highly recognized around the world.
In Christianity, the noble bird also happens to be an allegory for God and his Power. In Deuteronomy 32:9~12, God is described as a parent that watches keenly over his children. The emphasis is in verse 11, where God being the eagle, “stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings”.
Reading Exodus 19 this morning reminded me of the struggles and trials that the Israelites were put through before they participated in the exodus. As I read verse 4, it struck me how much God held on to His children’s hands and guided them along, so often forgiving them, so often enlightening them.
God spoke to Moses, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”
At that juncture, unbeknownst to the entire nation of Israel, God was preparing to confer His Holy Edict in stone.
We now know them by their more celebrated term: the 10 Commandments.
I found it especially meaningful that God described the journey to the foot of Mount Sinai as Him bearing Israel on eagle’s wings.
While they grumbled because of their very-human fears, to God, it was Him that was bearing their sorrows and toils.
Reading up on the majestic bird, I found out its flight pattern.
When an eagle spreads its wings and takes flight in the air, it flaps its wings strongly. Underneath the clouds in the sky, there is an updraft needed for soaring.
The pressure from the updraft under its wings, and the pressure above caused by the downdraft produces the lift necessary for flight.
When we understand that God designed the eagle’s wings for soaring, we see how with outstretched wings, it can float on the updraft to further heights.
It is important that the first few flaps before take-off are strong so that it can gain enough lift into the air. Considering this, it becomes clearer that there will be certain troubles and setbacks in the early stages of any task.
When we are faced with a new test from God, it definitely will be hard to overcome the temptations that the devil throws in as a package.
When we are faced with tribulation, the first singular thought often is to give up. But when we overcome these, we rise up higher and further, the updraft will continue to lift us to God.
Marvelously, the updraft is the power from the Holy Spirit.
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians,”…
This line kept surfacing in my head.
Have I really seen and understood what God has done to my adversaries?
I find that I often fail to give thanks for His grace and mercy upon my sinful being.
How often have I complained and grumbled at the first instance of my plans being thwarted.
I've also neglected to see how he bore me on His wings, choosing instead to see the hardship and trials for what they shouldn’t be worth.
It is no wonder that I often veil my own sight, thinking that I had not been brought before the LORD.
How do you relate to the majesty of the LORD God? Do you see Him bearing you on His wings?
God truly understands our human failings and limitations and with His immortal Word, He exhorts and comforts us through the utterance of prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah comforted God’s people when they despaired.
He spoke the oracle of hope and future renewal in Isaiah 40:30~31. Agreeing with the fact that youths and young men are imperfect, he says that “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall”.
Nevertheless, the chance of hope for restoration exists and
“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.”
A slight variation exists here in that this time when we have waited on the LORD, we are not borne on His wings.
Instead, we rise up and fly like the eagle.
In spite of all our sins and shortcomings, God fully acknowledges us as His Children, allowing us to soar higher to His standard of perfection, and We become like the majestic bird.
How wonderful is that! Moreover, it fully resonates with the truth in Deuteronomy 32:9~10 -
9“For the LORD’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
10 “He found him in a desert land
And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of His eye.”
We are the spiritual Jacobs!
We are His precious portion!
In us He dwells with His precious Holy Spirit.
If there should be a catch to this regal status of ours, it is only this:
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” (Exodus 19:5)
– To indeed obey God, to keep His commandment. It is always simple to say it in theory, yet I so often fail to do so.
I have disappointed God on so many occasions, perhaps you feel the same way too?
I can identify with the despondency and guilt that Israel must have felt in days of Isaiah, I’m sure you understand what I mean as well?
I pray and get up on my knees to meet with setbacks and temptations, only to give in so easily. Maybe you can agree with me too?
Let us understand the eagle’s flight pattern for it is such a valuable lesson for us. We really need the power from sincere prayer to be the updraft for our flight. We may be weary, but let us take heart that God Himself will give us strength, for when He finds us in our "desert land and howling wilderness", He will "encircle" us and "instruct" us, only because when we've kept His commandments, we are the "apple of His eye" (Deut 32:10).
As the sun sets on my birthday today, I thank God for His everlasting blessings.
Much like the eagle print on my T-shirt gift, I hope to live out His promise to me and fly like the eagle.
May you have the same hope as well.
Emmanuel.
1 comment:
hi this is samooer from renewed.us. i think you'd be a great addition to blog.tjc.org . have a look. :)
Post a Comment