Encouragement

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ON EAGLES' WINGS - EXODUS 19:2-6


"After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' "


It was three months since the people of Israel had left Egypt. God overthrew the Egyptian rulers who had kept His people in bondage for hundreds of years. They saw His might and power as He did signs and wonders through Moses to free the people. God picked the people up and freed them from their shackles of slavery. He carried them "on eagles' wings" - above the turbulence and stormy currents of their circumstances, and the resistance of their enemy. He brought them into freedom, and a revelation of Yahweh the almighty and everlasting God.

Israel was in the desert, camped by Mount Sinai, which was called the Mountain of God. This 7500 ft mountain was where Moses received the Ten Commandments and often met with God. As Moses ascended the mountain seeking God, the Lord called to him. (James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"). As Moses entered the presence of the Lord, God gave him a message for the people camped at the bottom of the mountain. God promised that they would be His special chosen people, treasured and set apart for Him.

Receive God's words to Israel as a special word of blessing and encouragement to you today!

The people of Israel often grumbled and murmured about what they did not have, or what they felt God was not doing for them. The Lord reminded them through Moses (as He reminds us today) that they could not have got away from Egypt or come this far apart from His hand of mercy and grace. They did not need others to remind them or tell them about the goodness of God; they had experienced His tender mercies for themselves.

God has saved and delivered us from the past, and the gods we bowed to on the other side of the river! He has sustained and strengthened us. He has carried us above and through the storms of life and brought us to where we are. He is Yahweh - the almighty, everlasting God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever. His promises to us are still 'yes' and 'amen' in Jesus. His covenant remains. We may fall multiple times, and miss the mark, but His Word to us is true - He remains the same - faithful, holy and full of grace and mercy. He committed Himself to each of us, when we received His invitation to walk in relationship with Him. He remains committed to the covenant that was sealed with the precious blood of Jesus - an unbreakable covenant which is for all eternity.

The name 'Rephidim' means 'support' or 'spreading'. When the people of Israel set out on their desert journey, they had no idea what awaited them or how long it would take; but they were not going alone. They had divine support. They were carried by the power and presence of God. They were covered by Him. Whatever they had to encounter would be from Him, or filtered through His protective shield.

God has His hand on you. He covers you. You are a part of the house of Jacob who He made an eternal covenant with - it covered not only Jacob, but all the generations that followed him. Tomorrow may seem uncertain or bleak, but you are covered. Your future is in the hands of God. He has carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Himself.

It is interesting that God compared His deliverance of Israel out of Egypt to the behavior of the eagle. Although the eagle is a strong, predatory bird, it is tender and protective towards its young. When young eagles are learning to fly, the mother eagle flies under them with her wings spread out to catch them. Other birds carry their young in their talons, but the eagle carries them upon her wings, so that even hunters cannot hurt the young ones, unless they first shoot through the mother. As the people escaped the armies of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud and fire (the manifestations of God’s presence), stood between the Israelites and their pursuers as a line of defence which could not be forced, a wall which could not be penetrated. And this was not all; their way, paved and guarded, was glorious, but their destination was much more so: God said "I brought you to myself". They were brought not only into a state of liberty and honor, but into covenant and communion with God.

These words of God are an expression of His wonderful tenderness towards His children; but they also denote the swiftness, security, and purposefulness of how God ministers to those He lays His hand upon. It is no effort for almighty God to carry us upon His wing - He does it with ease, and with the strength and grace of an eagle, riding over the winds, and the stormy currents of life. Although things sometime seem so bad, He shields you from the full force of your attackers. His presence guards your life! As we stop trying to manipulate our circumstances, and trust the Lord to lift us above the turbulence we face, He will renew us and give us the victory we seek. (Isaiah 40:31: "...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"). There is nothing too hard for the Lord!

Friends, God calls us His treasured possession; a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We are His covenant people, set apart for His glory; called from the outer darkness into His marvellous light, to live in communion and relationship with Him. He has called us to walk in His ways and in obedience to His Word, that we may know all the powerful blessings that only His kids can know. He has plans for you and me far beyond those which any earthly parent may have - they are plans for prosperity; to lift us to higher heights, and fulfill the dreams He has placed in our hearts. They are plans to show us great and mighty things we never knew. They are plans for increase and expansion - God has good plans for you! Like the mother eagle, He has been carrying you towards the vision and purpose which is for you. It may seem sometimes as though what you long for may never come to pass, but you are being carried towards it. Your life is in His omnipotent hands!

When the eagle encounters stormy winds, it simply flies through the storm until it is at a high enough altitude to ride the turbulent currents and stay above them! This is what God wants to do for you. He is carrying you through, to fly above the storms of life and be more than a conqueror! Remember He said He would never leave you (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus said that in this world we would have trouble, but we should not fear, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). In Isaiah 41:10 He says "Do not fear for I am with you" and "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you" Isaiah 46:4). Unless we decide to walk away (or keep away) from our amazing, loving God, He will never distance Himself from us. He is with us for keeps!

In the same way the people of Israel camped before the mountain of God, I encourage you to camp in God's presence and soak in His love. Walk up the mountain as Moses did - seek Him, call on His name, listen to His voice. In His presence we are empowered to live the life He calls us to live - one of righteousness, power and peace; one of victory and overcoming. As you yield yourself to the healing winds of God's Spirit, He will lift you up to higher heights, and take you to places you never thought you could go. You will see your prayers answered. You will see your dreams fulfilled! He is carrying you!

Remember that God is working in your life. He has brought you a long way from where you were. He has begun a good work in you, and He always completes what He begins! Be blessed!

Minoli Haththotuwa, 19 July 2010
www.wingslikeeagles.info

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