THE WAY OF THE EAGLE
DEUTERONOMY 32:7-14
Key verse: v. 11, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:”
Introduction:
Agur, the psalm writer, exclaimed that there were four things that were too wonderful for him which were hard to describe. The first was, “The way of an eagle in the air” (Proverbs 30:18-19).
Eagles are majestic in appearance as they soar and glide on their powerful wings. Their swiftness, strength, and keen eyesight are amazing.
I. THE LORD BORE ISRAEL ON EAGLES’ WINGS
A. God moved with speed to get Israel out of Egypt at the appointed hour, Exodus 19:4, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles ’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”
B. THE Lord takes note of the strength with which He redeemed Israel, Deuteronomy 32:11, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:”
1. The eagle pushes the young out of the nest and takes care of them, Deuteronomy 32:10, “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”
a. He led [shielded] him about, Deuteronomy 33:29, “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency ! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.”
b. He instructed him, Psalm 147:19-20, “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.”
c. He kept [guard with fidelity] him, Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”
2. Then she flies under them with wings spread out to catch them when tired, Deuteronomy 32:11b, “and how I bare you on eagles ’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”
3. God bears us up with His enormus strength, Exodus 13:16, “And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.”
II. LIKE THE EAGLE GOD FILLS US WITH GOOD THINGS
A. God satisfies us so that our strength is renewed, Psalm 103:5, “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
1. These were God’s mercies of which we are not worthy, Genesis 32:10, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” [Jacob]
2. God’s mercy was such as to forget our sins, Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
B. God fills our mouths if we open them, Psalm 81:10, “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
1. He will give us the desires of our heart, Psalm 37:3-4, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4- Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
2. He is able to do more than we can imagine, Ephesians 3:19-20, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20- Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
III. GOD GIVES THE STRENGTH OF EAGLES TO HIS PEOPLE
A. They that wait on the Lord, Isaiah 40:31, “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.”
1. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation, Isaiah 25:9, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
2. Our strength will be changed as that of Samson, Judges 16:29-30, “And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left . 30- And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.”
3. The Believer grows stronger when he waits on the Lord, Job 17:9, “The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.”
B. The eaglet was created to fly, not stay in the nest, Amos 6:1, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!”
1. The Canaanites dwelt at ease when the tribe of Dan came looking for their inheritance, Judges 18:7, “Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.”
2. The eagle is not satisfied to stay in the nest, James 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
3. We are to multiply, Hosea 10:12, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
4. We are to increase and abound in love, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men , even as we do toward you:”
Conclusion
Conclusion