Eagle’s Wings
Deuteronomy 32:1-12
REFLECTION: Moses is speaking to the Israelites who were about to claim their inheritance in
the Promised Land. He would repeat often his warning articulated in Deut. 8 about the danger of forgetting God. (Deut. 32:15) He recommended that if we remember “all the way which the Lord thy God led thee” (Deut. 8:1 and Deut. 32:10-12) it will keep us humble and mindful of God and His ways.
DIRECTION: Moses used an unusual analogy to illustrate how God “grew” his children. He compares God to a mother eagle who is trying to teach her young to fly. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest…so the Lord alone did lead him…” Vs 11,12 Why does God “Stir up our nests?”
1. TO MOVE US OUT OF THE ARENA OF APATHY.
A. THE COMFORT OF THE NEST. (The nest is the young eagle’s world)
1) Great Care goes into the building of the nest. (It takes up to 6 weeks to build)
a) Over five feet in diameter and can weigh up to 2000 #, made of a variety of materials and sticks.
b) The inside of the nest is covered with soft grass, hides or fur to provide comfort to her young.
c) Built over 75 feet high in trees or outcroppings to gain a better view of the area.
B. THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE (Eagles are not created for “comfortable nests”)
1) As the eagle matures, the mother begins to “Stir up the nest” by removing the soft grass and fur, exposing the rough sticks and brambles beneath.
2) She usually does this over time from the inside of the nest first, trying to get the eagle to the move to the edge.
3) The mother eagle knows that there is danger in staying in the nest too long. (Winter’s coming)
APPLICATION:
1) We, like the eagle, are created to “mount up with wings”.
2) Nests are created for nurturing, not abiding.
> We have a tendency to grow “comfortable” in our “nests”.
> There are dangers in staying in the “nests of life” too long.
"Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction." (Micah 2:10)
3) God often “Stirs” up our nests, making us “uncomfortable” to prepare us for flight.
2. TO MOVE US OUT OF THE AREA OF ADEQUACY.
A. THE PROVISION OF THE NEST.
1) In the nest, everything is provided for the eagle. (It is easy to live off of the labor of others.)
B. THE PRIDE OF THE YOUNG.
1) Young eagles gain a pound every 5 days. By the time their 6 weeks old, they are almost full weight.
2) Their wings are developed by 8 weeks and they feel “grown up.”
a) The parent begins to bring live food and drop it in the nest for them to kill.
b) Soon they begin to feel that they don’t “need” anyone. (But they’re still in the nest.)
c) They actually begin to “fight” the parent over the food they bring.
APPLICATION:
1) It is usually the immature who think they can handle the world alone.
> 1 Cor. 3:2,3 "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
> Heb. 5:12 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again … and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."
a) Maturity recognizes that we are not sufficient alone for the challenges ahead.
> 2 Cor. 2:16 “And who is sufficient for these things?”
2) It is often through failure that we are humbled, and through humility that we succeed.
> 1 Per 5:5,6 “be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
> 2 Cor. 12:9,10 "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
3. AN ATTITUDE OF AVAILABILITY.
A. THE PREPARATION FOR FLIGHT.
1) The mother stops bringing the food to the nest for the young eagle.
2) She will fly with food just out of reach of the eagle, forcing him to “jump up” and stretch his wings.
3) He will usually loose a lot of “baby fat” during this time.
(Note: what he thinks is going to kill him is actually preparing him for flight.)
B. THE SEPARATION FROM THE NEST.
1) Eventually the eagle’s hunger drives him to the edge of the nest where he spreads his wings and catches the wind, gliding down to find his own food.
2) He fails to find anything at first and overcome by weakness he comes to a rough landing.
C. THE DEDICATION OF THE PARENT.
1) The parents are watching and when the young eagle has exhausted himself, they drop food at his feet to reward his efforts.
2) They then teach him how to “take off” from the ground and how to hunt.
APPLICATION:
1) Many of our “hard times” are simply “flight” preparations.
2) We are not called to succeed, but to obey. Therefore our “failures” need never be final.
3) Faith doesn’t’ grow through comfort, but through crisis.
4) God is waiting just beyond our obedience to bless us and take us to the next phase.
CONCLUSION:
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa 40:31)
Wait {kaw-vaw'} here means to bind together. Is your soul (mind, will, and emotions) “bound together” with God’s purposes?
BURDENS = BLESSINGS:
A Christian man lost his home and mill when a flood washed them away. He was broken-hearted and discouraged as he stood surveying his loss. Just then he saw a glittering object that had been uncovered by the waters. It was gold! The disaster he thought had made him a beggar had actually made him wealthy. So, too, the Lord often works through our troubles to strip away certain cherished possessions to show us the better treasures of His love and power. How thankful we should be that in every storm of affliction we have the assurance that the Lord has a good purpose in view!
