On Wings of Eagles
A few years ago about this time I had the privilege of going to Alaska to photograph bald eagles. It was an incredible experience. Where I live you rarely see eagles; there I was surrounded by them!
Eagles are truly fascinating birds with many interesting traits. They are known for their keen eyesight and ability to soar high in the sky. The Bible refers to eagles on numerous occasions. Probably my favorite “eagle verse” is Isaiah 40:31 which says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Here the majestic eagle’s ability to soar is compared to the benefit that comes from hoping in, or waiting on, the Lord.
If you’ve ever watched an eagle soar you know that this analogy makes good sense. Eagles are able to soar because they have learned to wait for a draft and use it to lift them higher and higher. They do not have to beat their wings to rise to greater heights; they simply use the air currents and updrafts available to them.
In our spiritual lives we often try to do too much in our own power or strength. When we do this we become tired and weary. The key to spiritual growth and accomplishing things for God is to wait on the Holy Spirit to lift us up or give us strength.
In both the Hebrew and Greek languages the words for wind and spirit are the same. Like an eagle, we must wait on the wind—God’s Spirit—if we hope to fly high. When we do, as the prophet Isaiah indicated, we are able to “soar on wings like eagles…run and not grow weary…walk and not be faint.” This is a lesson we can all learn from one of God’s most magnificent creatures.
–Chuck
(I took the image above near Haines, Alaska.)