As we drove down County Road 59, I was pleasantly surprised when I suddenly saw a gigantic eagle’s nest atop of a power line tower. Perched beside it was an eagle peering down at us. I looked in awe at the regal bird standing sentinel over its nest. I was reminded of a scripture verse that I had read a few days earlier. “You have seen how I bare you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself” (Exodus 19:4).

As I gazed at the huge eagle’s nest, I thought about the young eaglets that were probably resting inside of it. One day soon the parent eagles would begin to throw the soft downy bedding over the side of the nest. The hard sticks and thorns will then be exposed. The nest begins to become uncomfortable for the little eaglets. As they flap and strengthen their wings, there comes a time when flying lessons begin. Reluctantly the eaglet perches on the edge of the nest, refusing to take the leap and follow the parent eagle in flight. The parent eagle will then push the eaglet out of the nest. It plunges towards the earth with a frightful scream. Finally, the young eagle has no choice but to flap its wings and instinctively learn to spread its wings and catch the air currents. As it tires and plunges towards the earth again, the mother eagle flies underneath spreading her wings and bears the young eagle up on her back. Whether the change of air current by the mother eagle underneath bears the young eagle up or if she literally bears it up on her back, I’m not certain. One thing is for certain the mother eagle does not let the young eagle plunge to its death. She bares her young up on eagle’s wings until it learns to fly like an eagle.

God is like that parent eagle. He stands sentinel over us. But there comes a time when flying lessons begin. We want to stay where it is cozy and safe. The only way we can learn in life and to have our wings of trust and faith strengthened is to get out of the nest and take the plunge. Are there risks and dangers in life? Sure there are. But to stay in the nest is to grow weak and die. We have the assurance of our heavenly Father that He will “bare us up on eagles wings” if we will trust Him.

How can we mount up with “wings as eagles” when it may seem we are plunging to an almost certain death?

First – TRUST in God’s power to save you. God brought the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery by miracles of deliverance. God spoke to Moses to remind them of His covenant. Trust in His promises. He won’t let you go. (See Psalm 121; 125:1, 2.) Let God “bare you up on eagle’s wings (Exodus 19:4, 5). He will satisfy your mouth with the good things of His Word so “your youth is renewed like the eagles” (Psalms 103:5). Take time to wait on Him in prayer and meditation on His Word and you “shall mount up with wings of eagles” (Isaiah 40:31).

Second – Moses was told that if they would OBEY and keep His covenant “then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people” (Exodus 19:5). To be borne up with eagle’s wings we must be obedient to God. Jesus said that if we keep His commandments we would abide in the atmosphere of His love. (See John 15:7-17.) The air currents of His love will “bare you up”.

Third – PRAISE and WORSHIP God. God assured the Israelites “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). As we praise and worship God, we are caught up into His very presence. (See Psalms 132; 135, I Peter 2:9, 10.) We mount up through worship far above the storms that rage around us. We learn to rest in God.
Fourth – be BORN AN EAGLE. A chicken or a vulture cannot fly like an eagle. It was not born an eagle. But Jesus said we can “be born again” (John 3:3). By repentance and faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins, we can be born again into the family of God. (See I Peter 1:17-19.) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the son’s of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). God will bear you up on eagle’s wings.