| THE EAGLE Isa. 40:28-31 |
 |
| The eagle in this passage as in others in the Bible, is a picture of the victorious Christian who is living a life of faith. God is able, even as Paul puts it in Eph. 3:20, "now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." The key is to tap into power and Isa. 40:31 tells us how. "But they that wait upon the Lord..." To wait upon the Lord is to have faith in: 1) The Promises of God 2) The Plan of God 3) The Power of God 4) The Presence of God I. As with the eagle there is RENEWED VITALITY - "Shall renew their strength" - This is an inward look. The word here for "renew" is literally to exchange. We exchange our strength which is so lacking and weak for His strength which is so boundless and mighty and powerful. The eagle has a tremendous capacity for action and sustained effort. Job. 9:26 - ....as the eagle that hasteth to the prey." Prov. 30:19 in listing the three things which are wonderful, the first on the list is "The way of an eagle in the air." Jer. 48:40 speaking of God's sweif judgment over Moab. "For thus saith the Lord; behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab." Jer. 49:22 - "Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs." The eagle is so remarkably strong because of his equally remarkable ability to rest. No bird can stand so still, hold so fast, and rest so perfectly. Grasping the rough crag in some inaccessible height with its talons, it settles down behind the legs; and by a curious arrangement of muscles and tendons, as the weight of the body rest on them, the talons literally lock in place. The great bird sleeps with absolute confidence for it cannot fall. Its hold cannot relax unless the body rises lifting its weight off the talons. Perched on an inaccessible crag, it can remain motionless for an entire day, renewing strength, recuperation exhausted energy and resting to prepare for a new battle with the elements. We as believers will never know the victory that we ought to enjoy until we learn to rest securely in the everlasting arms, donfident that we not only will not fall but in His arms, we cannot fall. See Heb. 4:1-11 There is a second reason why the eagle is a creature of superb strength. No bird lives so alone. Eagles are solitary creatures and do not move in flocks as do inferior fowl. The live in seperation, at most accompanied by only a mate. Jer. 49:16 describes the loneliness of the eagle's haunt. So it is, if we are to have the renewed vitality so needful, we must learn to come apart and spend time alone with God. We must be still and know that He is God. II. As with the eagle there is RENEWED VISION - "They shall mount up with the wings as the eagle." - This is an upward look. The eagle is built for high altitudes, capable of breathing in the most elevated attenuated atmosphere. His eye can bear a cloudless sky and look the sun full in the face. Can you look the Son full in the face? The eagle was designed to live in the firmament; he belongs more ot the heavens than to the earth. "for our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Phil. 3:20 No bird is credited with greater vision than is the eagle. Hundreds of feet off the ground he can spot his prey long before the hapless knows of his presence. The eagle can see clearly for miles. See Job 39:27-30. If we would but let God turn our vision upward, we also could see many things which this wicked world cannot see. III. As with the eagle there is RENEWED VOCATION - "They shall run and not be weary." - This is a forward look. The eagle was built for flight. It has the most perfect form for sweeping rapidly through the air with a maximum of speed and a minimum of resistence. Its bones are light, hollow, cylindrical and the peculiar structure that most combines lightness with strength. Its feathers are made to move, each as a little wing to propel with the least effort. The pinions often measure from seven to nine feet from tip to tip. He is tireless of exertion, maintaining continuous flight for many hours and actually resting on the wing. |
 |