Eagles' Wings

I Bare You on Eagles' Wings ----Exodus 19 :4

This is God telling the Israelites that He has always been there for His people.  Who has not been needing God's care in their lives?  We are all needing His care every day.  They have been greatly delivered from the hand of Pharaoh as Moses parts the Red Sea and they go on dry ground.  The waters cover the enemies of God and they and the 600 chariots are all lost forever.  We can be confident as Christians that whatever we are facing now and will face that as we continue to trust in God, He will bring us out of the difficult times we face.  Most birds carry the young in their talons ( Deuteronomy 32:11-12), but the eagle carries its young on its wings.  Matthew Henry says, " even those archers who shoot flying cannot hurt the young ones unless they first shoot through the old one."

POINT 1

This people of God, the Israelites had a history of complaining.  We talked about it last week when they accuse the servant of God, Moses, " Because there were no graves in Egypt , hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness....for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians , that that we should die in the wilderness." 14:12

Later in the wilderness they complain of no water.  Ex 15  There they are given a great and lasting promise which is true of us as Christians as well...." if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I WILL PUT NONE OF THESE DISEASES UPON THEE, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: FOR I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE."

CS Lewis once said, " There are two kinds of people, those who say to God, ' Alright, Lord, have it your way.  and those who say ' Lord thy will be done.' "

The NT talks about murmuring.  " Do all things without murmurings and disputings that you may be blameless and harmless , the sons of God, without rebuke , in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation , among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life." Philippians 2:14

Even when we complain , God does not abandon us.  He bears us as the eagle upon his wings, the young eagle. The Lord rained down manna from heaven ( bread) for the people to eat, but they complained about that as well.  Yet He did not leave them to die in the wilderness but through this even this murmuring God took care of His own people.

Point 2-  How has God taken care of us as His children when we did not deserve it either?

He does not abandon us either even when we are ungrateful for His blessings and violate His laws and commandments.  He has given us His commandments , the moral law, so that we may live better here and healthier lives .

He sends us gifts every day if we would but look for them.  He sends us gifts through the kindness of others in our lives.  Think of a time when you really needed help.  Did not someone reach a hand to you and help?  Perhaps it was a parent, a grandfather, an aunt or a wife or husband.

We do not always want to listen to the wisdom and advice that is godly from others but we know they have our best interest at heart.  We should take stock, take a deep breath, and thank God for all that have helped us in the past and will help us in the future. We too help others when they need it.  Christian compassion should be compassionate.  The Epistle lesson from Ephesians 4 reminds us we should be truthful in love with others because we have been " renewed in the spirit of ( our) minds."  He goes on in a list we should write down in our actions as well---Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger..and evil speaking be put away from you, ...and be ye kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

He fed the children of Israel in the wilderness and He will take care of us too.  Lastly, we owe Him our obedience and love.

Point 3-" if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people...and ye shall be a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." 19:6

Obedience is better than sacrifice. I Samuel 15:22 Here God was talking . Saul was trying to say a little worship that was not done in the right way could substitute for obedience.  He had disobeyed God and was not reaping the results.

We have a responsibility as God's people to fulfill our end of the covenant.  A covenant is God saying do this and live ; He makes the agreement. Our job is to try and do His will and follow His laws in our lives as best we can.  We can make excuses but those are not enough.  Obedience is better.

As His chosen beloved people, a holy nation, a kingdom of priests ( Revelation 1:6) we are given His love and compassion in our lives so that we may give others what they need spiritually, a kingdom of priest and kings.  In Christ's Word we rule over darkness and offer others the light that cannot be extinguished.

God gives His people Himself and His laws, the Ten Words or Ten Commandments. The world tries and pulls us away as we prayed last week in the Collect through the temptations of the flesh and the devil but as we are kept by God , borne on eagles' wings, we are safe.

What can we ask for besides the care of God through His people, His Word and His Church, His body on earth?

Conclusion--do you feel abandoned by God in your life for some reason?  He calls us by His love to fly on eagles' wings and under His protection.  We can be sure He will never leave us or forsake us despite how we feel.  He asks for our covenantal love in return .  A covenant involves our part as well as God's initiation of the covenant or agreement.  What can we give Him but our love and obedience in sharing the good and great news of an eternal redemption in Christ?

To Him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen..