On Eagles' Wings

This is a late post from my devotional thoughts two weeks ago. Quarantine life can be busy, that's all I can say.

In Exodus 19, God speaks to Moses after having delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians. He instructs Moses to tell the people:

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought You to Myself. 

I have read this many times in my Christian life. I have even sung this many times in my Christian life. But, now, for the first time in my life I am wondering why did God choose to reference the eagle in this passage? Every American should be familiar with the bald eagle as an emblem of our country, signifying freedom. If I bring that idea to this text; however, I introduce error by imposing my own culture upon the culture to whom God was speaking through Moses.

I haven't spent too much time thinking about the eagle's characteristics, I guess, because I don't see eagles very often. However, I imagine that the image of an eagle would have been more relevant to the nomadic culture addressed here. What are the notable qualities of the eagle? I can think of three. First, eagles are extremely powerful. Second, they have extraordinary eyesight. Third, they are known to soar higher than any other bird. I think this last quality is where the heart of the meaning of this verse lies. As I read and write, I am picturing an eagle swooping down and then soaring to great heights.

Perhaps God chooses to reference the eagle to illustrate what He has saved the Israelites FROM and TO. He has performed miraculous signs in front of all the Egyptians, displaying His superiority to the gods of the Egyptians. This all culminated with Him leading the Israelites safely across the Red Sea and then drowning the entire Egyptian army. Thus, God delivered the Israelites FROM a state of servitude to men. Not only did He bring them out, but He also brought them TO a place far above this servitude, the very presence of the true and living GOD. There is certainly no higher place.

How blessed we are to have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transported into the kingdom of light. Because God the Father planned, because the God the Son carried out, and because God the Holy Spirit applied this salvation to our hearts, we have been set free from our bondage to sin. Now, we are free to worship the true living God and to dwell in His presence forever and ever.

Why Frogs?

Over the course of the past week, I read Exodus 8 through 17. This portion of Scripture is a narrative explaining the many plagues that God brought upon Egypt culminating in the exodus of God's people from Egypt into the wilderness. I was curious about the particular plagues that are recounted in this passage. In particular, why frogs? Personally, I find frogs kinda gross, but not particularly threatening. So, why did God threaten Pharaoh that his land would be filled with frogs if he did not release the Israelites? Egypt was a polytheistic culture with numerous gods. It turns out that one of them was Heqet, a goddess of fertility, who represented in the form of a frog. Thus, through this plague God demonstrates to everyone in Egypt, including the Israelites, that He is more powerful than this god. And so it is with all the plagues. With each plague, God demonstrates that He is the One true Creator, the One true Sustainer, the One true Judge.

This passage really just came alive to me this week and I really heard God speaking: "Worship ME. Honor ME. Serve ME." Some verses that really stood out include:

• Exodus 11:3 Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people. 
• Exodus 12:12 Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments--I am the LORD. 
• Exodus 14:4 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD. 
• Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.

This is the purpose of my life. Not money. Not pleasures. Not beauty. Not fame. Not anything this world offers. The goal of my life is simply to reflect. To reflect the might and power and glory of my God so that more and more may see and worship also. 

The Battle

This week I have been reading the beginning of the Exodus. Another familiar story, but God's word is living and active and He speaks through even familiar stories. Moses and Aaron, called by God, approach the Pharaoh of Egypt. They demand that the Hebrew people, who are bound in slavery to the Egyptians, be set free. Of course, the Pharaoh refuses. So, Moses and Aaron request the people be permitted to go into the wilderness to worship the Lord. Not only does the Pharaoh refuse this request. He also punishes the Hebrew slaves even more. While previously they had been provided straw to make a quota of bricks, now they must gather their own straw and still produce the exact same quota. Of course this is impossible and the foremen are beaten for their laziness and inability to perform. This is the part that struck me. What is the response of the Hebrew foremen? They blame Moses and Aaron, saying: " May the Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” In the midst of their oppression, they see the very ones sent by God to deliver them as their enemy. The reader, however, can see a more accurate picture of what is really happening. We see that Moses and Aaron are being sent by God, the sovereign I AM. They are merely instruments of the faithful God, who made a covenant with the people, who are held in bondage. We also see in Exodus 4:21 the reason for Pharaoh's response: "I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go." This is not a battle between Moses and Aaron and the Hebrews or between Moses and Aaron and the Pharaoh. Of course, it cannot be, for our battle is not against flesh and blood. This is a battle between a good God and the forces of evil. 

In a way, I see similar responses in our current situation. Some blame the federal government. Some blame the health officials. Some blame the scientists. Some blame the local government. Isn't that similar to what the Hebrew slaves did? Is our battle against other people? I answer no. There is a much larger battle going on, between God and the spiritual forces of evil. If that is what I truly believe, then my response to this global pandemic should fall in line. How can I respond to a battle that occurs in the spiritual realm? I must fight this battle with prayer.