What The
Eagle Represents In The Bible
By Jack Wellman
The Eagle Bears us Up
The image of God as an eagle is found throughout the Bible
but primarily in the Old Testament.
It is a sign of
strength and able to bear much weight, as Moses wrote, “You yourselves have seen what I
did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to
myself” (Exodus
19:4).
This is further
symbolized when Moses said of God “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that
flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them
on its pinions” (Dueteronomy
32:11).
The eagle can bear up the young eaglets on
its pinions, which are the outer wings.
This is basically what God did when He
brought Israel out of captivity from Egypt and continued to bear her up in her
wanderings in the wilderness.
The Eagle as a sign of Strength
The psalmist often referred to God in the
imagery or as having the attributes of an eagle and especially when he wrote
that it was God “who
satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5).
.
Isaiah also saw the
symbolic strength of God as depicted in an eagle when he wrote “but
they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not
faint” (Isaiah
40:31).
The Eagle as God’s Rod against Israel and Judah
God also uses the eagle in the Bible to describe different
powers which will come down swiftly upon Israel if she refuses to live in
obedience to Him.
.
God spoke through
Jeremiah in warning Judah about a coming threat from the north by stating “Behold,
he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are
swifter than eagles—woe to us, for we are ruined” (Jeremiah 4:13).
The Eagle as God’s Rod against Israel and Judah
God also uses the eagle in the Bible to describe different
powers which will come down swiftly upon Israel if she refuses to live in
obedience to Him.
.
God spoke through
Jeremiah in warning Judah about a coming threat from the north by stating “Behold,
he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are
swifter than eagles—woe to us, for we are ruined” (Jeremiah 4:13).
If the nation
continues in idolatry and refused to repent even after being warned, God
thunders “The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end
of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not
understand” (Deuteronomy
28:49).
These “pursuers
were swifter than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains;
they lay in wait for us in the wilderness” (Lamentations 4:19).
Further, Habakkuk
says much the same thing if Israel refuses to repent, writing about the coming
enemy “Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening
wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they
fly like an eagle swift to devour” (Habakkuk 1:8).
The Eagles as God’s Rod against the Nations
God also uses the language of a swooping eagle even against
the nations surrounding Israel.
“Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly
like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the
warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her birth
pains”
(Jeremiah
49:22).
Whichever nation
exalts itself against the Most High, God says “Though you soar aloft like the
eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you
down, declares the Lord” (Obadiah 1:4).
The Eagle as God’s Protection
God refers to Himself as an eagle for several different
reasons and one example is of His protective nature as in Psalm 91:1-4.
“’He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the
Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I
trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly
pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will
find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.’ ”
Eagles represent sovereignty and supremacy
and how fitting since God is the real ruler of kings and presidents (Daniel 2:20-21;5:18-21;
Proverbs 8:15-16; Romans 13:1-2).
But also, when the storms hit, eagles can
fly far above the storms, indicating that God is never affected by conditions
for He is also sovereign over nature.
Conclusion
If you have ever watched an eagle soar, it is nearly
motionless and stationary.
This absolute lack of movement makes it
naked to the eyes of its prey.
This majestic bird may have a wing span
over eight feet and weigh up to 15 pounds and live up to 40 years.
Eagles are indigenous to North America but
they used to be predominant in Palestine at one time.
They are also the most attentive parents of
all the bird species and perhaps the greatest teachers of their young, and like
doves, they will remain monogamous until death.
God is like an eagle,
- He covers us and He shadows us (Psalm 36:7, 63:7,
91:1-4, 1 King 8:7),
- covers us (Psalm 91:1-4),
- hides us (Psalm 17:8) and
- is even under us (Psalm 36:7).
Would you want to have
a deeper relationship with God?
God
has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in
your own life by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say
the following prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me
from You.
I am truly sorry. I
now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to
You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was
resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in
my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to your Word, I am now
born again.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your
will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Please use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/07/17/what-does-the-eagle-represent-in-the-bible-a-christian-study/
Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/07/17/what-does-the-eagle-represent-in-the-bible-a-christian-study/
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lyrics
Highlight
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God
I will soar with You above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still, know You are God [x2]
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still, know You are God [x2]
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still, know You are God [x2]
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still, know You are God [x2]
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