ON EAGLES' WINGS..BY DAVID GUZIK

You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you
on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. (Exodus 19:4)

The people of Israel had finished the first part of their journey - out
of Egypt, and now towards Mount Sinai. They would stay a year at
Mount Sinai as God gave them His law. As they arrived at the same
mountain where the LORD spoke to Moses out of the burning bush,
God had something very special to say to the people of Israel.

First, He reminded them of His triumph over the Egyptians ("You
have seen what I did to the Egyptians"). Israel needed to be
reminded over and over again that the LORD their God was greater
than any of Egypt's pretend deities. There should never be a
competition in our life between God and anything else; we need to
remember that He is greater than anyone and anything else.

Next, He spoke to them about His loving care. In saying, "How I
bore you on eagle's wings," the LORD used a precious - and
powerful - picture. It is said that an eagle does not carry her young
in her claws like other birds. Instead, the young eagles attach
themselves to the back of the mother eagle and are protected from
any attack from the ground as they are carried. Any arrow from a
hunter must pass through the mother eagle before it could touch
the young eagle on her back.

The LORD has the same loving care for you. Whatever arrows or
attacks come your way have first come through the LORD Himself.
This is true in two ways. First, Jesus endured all temptation while
He walked this earth as a man. The Bible says that Jesus "was in
all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
Enthroned in heaven, at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus
understands perfectly every arrow shot at you, because the same
arrow was shot at Him. Second, whatever comes our way must
come by the allowance of God. God is never the source of evil or
temptation, but it is fully within God's power to stop any trial or
temptation at any time. The fact that He has allowed it means He
has a purpose for it in your life - and the purpose isn't to kill you.
The death-arrow would have to go through Him before it ever
comes to His child.

Finally, He spoke to Israel about the purpose of His deliverance. He
rescued Israel so they could have a relationship with Him. As He
brought them out of Egypt, God said that He "brought you to
Myself." God didn't deliver Israel so they could do their own thing,
but so they could be God's people.

So it is in our life. Jesus does not rescue us so we can live to
ourselves, but so we live unto Him. As 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, "He
died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves,
but for Him who died for them and rose again." His purpose is to
bring us to Himself. He rescued you to be with Him in relationship.