ON EAGLE’S WINGS
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)
When telling the Old Testament stories
it is sometimes helpful and interesting to notice the actual dates of when certain events actually took
place. References to dates and times are
often vague; but they are actually noted in the scriptures for a reason. If you just remember to notice certain
passages, such as the one mentioned at the beginning of Exodus 19:1, you can
determine definite time frames that were observed by the Israelites in the
wilderness. This verse says; “On the first day of the third month after
the Israelites left Egypt – on that very day – they came to the Desert of
Sinai.”
This noted time period would have been
during the month of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar, which relates to late May and
early June on the calendars we use today.
When they reached this point in their
journey, and they entered the Desert of Sinai and camped at the foot of the
mountain; it would have marked forty five days since they left Egypt.
Moses moved a little higher up the
mountain from the people and there he met with God. God called down to him from the highest part
of the mountain and told him: “This is what you are to say to the
descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,
and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. Now, if you obey me fully and keep my
covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be
for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Moses must have pondered the words of
God in his heart as he descended the mountain and moved back to the
people. He must have thought of God’s
beautiful choice of words to them; and how God mentioned that He had “carried
the people on eagle’s wings and brought them to himself.”
This beautiful and poetic language that
originated straight from the mouth of God right there on top of Sinai is often
used in our poems and songs today. It is
a beautiful word-picture of refuge and rescue from hopeless situations.
Why do you think God chose to use an
eagle to illustrate his care for his people?
Some have observed that the other birds
of prey carry their young in their talons to protect them from the attack of
other animals from above and behind; but this is not so with the eagle.
The eagle is mighty and he fears no
other bird. The only thing an eagle
fears is the arrows and shots from mankind.
The eagle actually carries it’s young on
its wings; knowing if it is shot by an arrow from below, the parent bird would
suffer the injury and the young eaglets would have a chance to fly away and
survive.
Old Jewish legends have explained that
when the Israelites were attacked by Pharaoh’s arrows at The Red Sea, God sent
angels from the divine cloud that protected them from the Egyptians. It is said that the angels absorbed the blows
of the Egyptian arrows and they acted as shields in front of the Israelites.
It is so amazing to me that the Jewish
people will see and relate to this great example; but they fail to see how
Christ took the blows for the sins of mankind at the crucifixion. Jesus was there for us, as if He were
carrying us on eagle’s wings.
Christ has always followed the example of The Father. This is the way God was protecting and
abiding with the people at Sinai; He was saying: “I love you so much that I will defend
you! I will die for you if need be! Because of me; you will survive and thrive as
my children! “
The things that happened at Sinai
represent God’s marriage to Israel. It
is important, before entering the covering of the wedding ceremony, to stop and
consider the relationship we have with our Creator.
After the marriage ceremony at Sinai,
civil laws will be emphasized. This is
necessary even though at times these civil laws may feel heavy and
burdensome. It is important to remember
that our FIRST commitment to God came from a prior loving and nurturing
relationship, one that happened even before the giving of the law where God took us
unto himself purely out of unconditional love.
In many ways, the Israelites were as
guilty and as sinful as the Egyptians that God destroyed; yet God chose them,
He loved them, and He took them as His beloved.
He set them apart and proclaimed them special people. He brought them out of Egypt as if on the
bonding wings of an eagle. His love
swooped down just in the nick of time, and without stipulation he suffered the
pain in our place and bore us on eagle’s wings to the foot of the mountain
where He chose to instruct us on the best ways to live; so very much like an eagle looking after its young!
But; you say; I wasn’t born Jewish! Where does that leave me?
My friend; anyone who belongs to Christ
has been adopted into the family of God. This family definitely started out with the Hebrew people; but it has grown over the years! If you have come under the love of Christ and made Him the covering for
your life; you have come into the wedding ceremony and are a part of the Bride
through the marriage covenant with Jesus, and through adoption by God. You have been welcomed into the family as a much
loved wife and daughter.
Much more of this will become clear as
we go along. For now we are discovering
how a people, living long before Christ ever entered the world, came to be
chosen by God. We are looking at the beginnings of the family heritage!
It is very important to get the “love”
aspect of God before you delve into the giving of the law. The law was given out of love, not
works. Real love always brings us to
ways of righteousness and justice.
So in that day, the 46th day
Moses listened to God and then went back down the mountain to summon the elders
he had chosen to help him govern the people. Moses told them all the words that God
had given him to speak to the people.
The elders and Moses relayed the message
of God together to the people. All the
people responded as one man and answered “We will do everything the LORD has
said.”
On the 47th day after Passover (when they left Egypt) Moses climbed
back up the mountain and relayed the answer of the people to God.
