Soar Like the Eagle (Deut. 31:30, 32:1, 9, 11, 12; Psalm 103:2, 5; Isaiah 40:30-31) Last Monday, the third Monday in February, was a federal holiday declared by Congress to celebrate Washington s birthday. It has evolved unofficially to become Presidents Day, a day to celebrate any and all presidents as the public chooses. Congress through its legislative powers has declared many other activities and symbols to identify our nation s heritage, such as our flag with its stars and stripes. Another national symbol is the bald eagle. Throughout history man has had a fascination with eagles. Known as the king of birds, it has been revered as a symbol of majesty, grace, and power. Roman legions marched under the silver and gold emblem of eagles. Egyptians used the eagle as a symbol of victory On June 6, 1782, Congress chose the bald eagle as the emblem of the United States of America because of its long life, great strength, and majestic looks. It is depicted on our paper currency and coinage. I wear it on my Army uniform as a sign of my military rank of Colonel. It is interesting to note that during the selection process Benjamin Franklin didn t feel the eagle was worthy of being our national symbol, citing many negative features from his observations concerning the bird. He proposed the turkey as our national bird. I suppose we do celebrate it as our national bird on Thanksgiving Day. I m glad we chose the bald eagle. The eagle represents freedom, living as he does on the top of lofty mountains. Amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom, whether with strong pinions he sweeps into the valleys below or upward into the boundless spaces above.
For thousands of years, the eagle has been admired for its grandeur, its grace in flight, and its great size and awesome power. This king of birds has some interesting traits and features human beings, especially we as Christians, would do well to evaluate and emulate. Let us first consider the nest. It s usually built on the edge of a great precipice. The nest is made of thorns, jagged stones, and sharp bones. It is covered with wool, feathers and furs from animals that she and her mate have killed. The nest is a lifetime habitat. The average life of an eagle is fifty years. It is the home for the newborn, year in-year out. Each year the nest is cleaned, repaired and upgraded with new materials added onto to old. The largest known nest, discovered in St. Petersburg, Florida measured nine and a half feet across, twenty feet deep, and estimated to weigh two tons. In the nest, the mother eagle hatches her young and there for a time nourishes and cherishes them. It is nice and cozy with room service. Not too much an incentive for the young eagle to go out into the cold-cold unknown world. Mother eagle knows that an eagle is born to soar so she knows when it s time for the eaglet to leave the nest. She starts by stirring up the nest, turning on the vacuum cleaner, and removing the warm wooly feather bed. The thorns and jagged stones aren t too comfortable. Thirty day notice! No more room service! Baby eaglet doesn t pay much attention to mother eagle. Tough love is next! She prods them with her sharp talons. Baby eaglet is hanging tough. Thirty days are up! Mother eagle becomes sheriff eagle to evict. She sweeps them out with her powerful wings ad casts them over the edge of the rocks. Screaming with terror they drop like stones. But just as they are about to be dashed to pieces, she and father eagle, who had been circling overhead, swoop down below
them and bear them up. They will continue this process until they realize Mom and Pop mean business and learn to fly by themselves. God deals with His people in a similar manner. God cherishes them, but He also challenges them. He protects and provides for them, but He also subjects them to the disciplines of disturbance so they can learn to fly. The eaglet that whimpers, I can t, dies on the rocks and adds its body to the scavengers waiting there. But the eaglet that attempts to fly, when flight seems impossible, soon finds itself lord of the blue. Sir Winston Churchill was asked to speak to the young men at his former school. They expected a long speech from him, but he gave these words, Gentlemen, never give up, never give up, never give up. Never, never, never. Then he sat down. Second, consider his wings. An eagle is built for flight. Assisted by his powerful wings, the eagle glides effortlessly to altitudes of many thousand feet and is capable of using his wings to carry other eagles to safety. Turbulent winds only cause him to fly higher and faster. They continue climbing until they are safe in the sunshine. The soaring eagle is a stirring picture of the true meaning of liberty. In like manner, the child of God should face the darkness of storms with courage and determination. His prayer and faith can penetrate the clouds and bring him into the glory of the Son s presence. As the wings make it possible for the eagle to perform with great speed and strength so can spiritual eagles perform with equal speed and strength. God has promised to supply it. The believer quickly flees the temptation and God s strength is made perfect in his weakness. These wings also make it possible for the believer to go swiftly to the aid of others.
In Psalm 103:5, we read about the youth being renewed like that of the eagle. The Psalmist is referring to the molting of birds in which they cast off old feathers and get new plumage. Old plumage affects the aerodynamics of flight and gives an unwanted whistling sound in flight, providing warning to objects of prey. At times of molting, the eagle will retire to a lofty spot, pluck off the old feathers and other debris that has accumulated in the plumage and await the new feathers. At the same time, the eagle may also sharpen his beak and talons against the rocks. The Psalmist reminds us the need to rid ourselves of the old trappings that are holding us back and to don new garments that God has provided to keep us spiritually young. The third amazing thing about eagles has to do with its eyes. The eagle s eyesight is eight times stronger than that of humans. They are also gifted with a 275 degree field of vision. The eagle is able to survey an area of several miles with great accuracy. The expression eagle eyes describes quite accurately these unique characteristics. This along with the ability to soar to great heights gives him a greater perspective not only to spot animals of prey but also to be sensitive to approaching danger and to protect himself and family. Spiritual eagles need keen eyesight also, which we call Spiritual Insight, to keep their eyes centered on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). They are to overlook faults in others. They should be quick to see the needs of others as well. And, of course they should be able to spot the enemy readily. Another aspect of the eagles life has to do with their habitat. As I mentioned earlier, they build on high ledges. Joseph Parker, an English clergyman once remarked, An eagle does not roost in a sparrow s nest. God has designed and empowered us to soar like
eagles. So our spiritual road should be ever ascending in faith. From the heights, we can experience the clear air and vision to carry out our mission of love down in the valleys. The eagle displays the sense of responsibility that is a genuine companion of true liberty. He mates for life and homesteads the nest, making necessary repairs and additions. He takes an active role in providing for his family and in teaching the young to fly. The story is told of a farmer who found a young eagle and placed it among his chickens. The eagle ate with them and soon adopted their ways. One day a friend was visiting the farm and noticed the eagle with the chicken in the yard. He said to the farmer, What s the eagle doing in there? The farmer answered, Oh, he doesn t know he s an eagle. He thinks he s a chicken. He eats feed and does everything the chickens do. He ll never fly. But the friend said, No, I don t agree. He s still an eagle because he was created to be one. He has the heart of an eagle and one day he will realize it. The farmer s friend tried to prove it by encouraging it to fly but unsuccessfully. Finally, one day he took him to the foot of a mountain just as the sun was rising. The instant the eagle got a vision of the rising sun, he uttered a wild scream of joy, stretched his wings, and flew off never to return to the barnyard again. God created us to soar. In so many ways, the eagle illustrates the life, victory, power and freedom that Jesus Christ came to give those of us who place our faith in Him. Oh, for a vision of Jesus that we may mount up with wings as eagles. To God be the glory! Amen. References: Adapted The Eagle, Our National Emblem, Maude M. Grant; The King of Birds, Bruce Howell; 061108; 021809;
Deuteronomy, D.R. Scott, Psalms LXXXIII-CL W.A. Shelton, Isaiah,.W. Rogers, The Abington Bible Commentary.