Do you know how a mother eagle
teaches her eaglets to fly? The golden eagle (the one the Israelites would have
seen in their day) weaves thorny branches and brambles into her nest, which is
built very high above the ground. When the young birds are immature and still,
they are comfortable; but as they grow bigger and more wiggly, the nest becomes
uncomfortable.
When the mother eagle observes
that her eaglets are ready for flying lessons, she nudges them out of the nest.
She doesn't wait for them to go (they might choose to stay for Mom's good
food), but actively pushes them out, one by one, watching each one descend with
maternal concern, ready to swoop to their rescue as needed.
And how does she rescue the
immature eagle who isn’t yet flapping effectively? She flies beneath the baby,
and he gently falls onto her outstretched wing. Then, she returns him to the
safety of the nest, until he is ready for another gentle push toward
independence.
The Lord compared Himself to
just such an eagle mother when He spoke to the Israelites in the desert,
reminding them of how He saved them out of slavery and carried them to freedom
“on eagles’ wings” (see Exodus 19:4).
In other passages, His glorious wings guard and shelter: “He shall cover you
with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge” (Psalm 91:3-4; see also Psalm 36:7 and Malachi 4:2). Our God is the one who both challenges us to greater
heights, and rescues us from falling.
Some of us may have full, even
thorny, nests at the moment. Still, we encourage our children every day to step
out on their own: get themselves dressed for the first time, test out their
bike without training wheels, cook dinner for the family, apply for a first job, get a driver's license. Each of these is a loving nudge out of the nest as they awkwardly move toward maturity. Yet, if a child fails — falls off the bike, burns the
casserole, blows the driving test — we move in to rescue and to comfort, as he regroups for another try
at learning to soar.
And as we guide our children toward
increased independence, no matter how many test flights it takes, we can confidently
hold fast to the One who guards, shelters and rescues His children
with mighty, outstretched wings.
“The Lord
found [Israel] 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.
As
an eagle stirs up His nest,
Hovers
over its young,
Spreading
out its wings, taking them up,
Carrying
them on its wings,
So
the Lord alone led his people . . ."
Deuteronomy 32:10-12
But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their
strength;
They shall soar on wings like eagles;
They shall run and not grow weary;
They shall walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
