Issue 1,146 – Master of the Air – May 3, 2023
The Majestic bald eagle, once near extinction, is again a common sight. On a recent drive to Hope, I saw perhaps a dozen of them, but in salmon spawning season, hundreds of them will be along the river.
The bald eagle is considered sacred by many of the first nations people. It is easy to see why. An eagle seems to invoke feelings of awe, power and freedom.
The baldy is the apex predator of the bird world here. It is the master of the air and the king of all it surveys. There is something absolutely breathtaking about watching them soar high above us.
The Scriptures make reference to eagles many times. They can signify power, freedom, speed and more.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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. Isaiah 40:30-31
You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19:4
I find it interesting that as positively used the image of the eagle is in Scripture, it is considered an unclean bird to eat.
“And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, the kite, the falcon of any kind, every raven of any kind, the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind… .” Leviticus 11:13-16
Presumably, eagles are considered unclean to eat under the Mosaic Law because they will eat carrion. (As an aside, yes, ostriches will eat carrion, while primarily vegetarians, they are opportunistic feeders and will consume insects, rats, mice and carrion.)
I see a strong parallel here between people and eagles. We are the highest beings that God created on the earth. We are created in His image and given a specific role in maintaining the created order.
Yet, because we have an inherited sin nature and are sinners by choice, we are unclean and cannot stand in the presence of God. Like the carrion-eating birds, something intrinsic to our hearts makes us unclean. We were not created unclean; that is the result of the fall.
Without the intervention of God to restore us to grace, we would be lost in our sin forever, eternally separated from God and His love. Yet, in His holiness, love and mercy, the Lord provides us with an opportunity to be removed from the ranks of the unclean and restored to His family.
Sometimes, as Christians, we take His grace and mercy for granted. It is as if we think, “Well, of course, God would save me! Why wouldn’t he? After all, He is a God of love.”
God is indeed a God of love, but He is also holy and a God of justice. He is fully justified in dispensing the penalty our sin deserves. In fact, if God did not punish sinners, He would not be God.
The redemption we often take for granted is an incredible gift of mercy. It was purchased at a price we cannot even imagine. Christ took on the cost of sin for all who would accept His love.
His the true Master over all He surveys and the King over all creation. No other human can match the sinless life of our Saviour. None of us can stand under the light of His holiness without being destroyed, except by the sacrifice of the Christ.
Take some time today to give glory to our Lord and King.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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