Nature often provides a mirror of man’s soul and his relationship to God. Moses, for example,
chose an eagle for the illustration given in Deut. 32:11,12 to clarify God’s dealings with men:"As
an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them,
beareth them on her wings:so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with
him."

Those to whom Moses was writing would have little difficulty in picturing an eagle and her care
of her brood, and the parallel of God’s concern for His people. Likewise we also should have little
difficulty in understanding the analogy. It certainly is not beyond our imagination. Yet with all the
obvious comparisons which come quickly to our minds, it would be well for us to pause and
examine carefully some specific examples.

Notice the first action of the eagle. "An eagle stirreth up her nest." When her young have matured
to the point where they are able to learn to fly, the eagle stirs the nest, making it just as
uncomfortable as possible and shaking the eaglets loose to accept the challenges of flight more
readily.

As the eagle must stir up the nest to dislodge the young who will not of their own accord fling
themselves out into space, so the Lord must stir up our nest to free us from the easily acceptable
comforts and securities which we enjoy, so that we may see and accept the challenges of a closer
fellowship with Him.

However, the eagle does not simply shake the eaglets loose and then leave them to their own
resources and experiments to learn the art of flying. Rather she flies over the nest, giving her
brood practical examples to follow. "An eagle . . . fluttereth over her young." Is there a better
parallel to the Lord’s training of us? He never stirs us loose merely to cause grief or ruin, nor
does He leave us without example. If the Lord has stirred your nest, dislodged you from your
comfortable rut, keep your eyes open wide for His training example.

In the third comparison there is a glorious confidence. "An eagle . . . spreadeth abroad her
wings." This speaks of the eagle’s self-sacrificing protection of her brood. Many writers have
indicated that if danger seems imminent the mother bird will place herself in a position to receive
the enemy’s onslaught before her young are attacked. There are few pictures which reveal more
of the Lord’s care and protection for us. Certainly we are aware of this care in the physical realm.
Almost everyone can point to at least one particular event in his life when the Lord demonstrated
His protection unmistakably.

But beyond this, in the spiritual realm, the Lord has placed Himself again and again between us
and our soul’s enemy to keep him from destroying our spiritual life. When he attacked at our
weakest point, when failure seemed inevitable, the Lord Himself hedged us in under His
protection.

The final parallel re-emphasizes and expands the third. "An eagle . . . taketh them, beareth them

on her wings." It has long been noted that when a young eagle is learning to fly and for some
reason, be it lack of strength or confidence, it suddenly flounders in the air, the parent will dive
under the young one and spread her wings, offering support to the infant bird. What a peace-
giving promise this is! As we can expect the Lord’s stirrings, as we can look to Him for a guiding
example, so we can trust for His speedy and sufficient support in time of weakness and failure.
We may not always understand all the Lord is doing. He will provide an example, a call, which
we can not follow in ourselves. Yet He will not desert us. Rather, He has promised to be our ever-
present help. Why then do we hesitate to follow Him?

When we become too attached to the nest of this world He stirs us. When we wonder how or
where to follow He provides an example. When we are overcome by the enemy He protects us.
When our own strength is insufficient He supplies His. And all of this is for one purpose, that
Christ alone would be our God. Can you see yourself in the picture of the lazy, ignorant,
defenseless, frail eaglet? Can you see the Lord’s stirrings, lessons, protection, and provision in
your experience? Are you accepting each of them as best for you? Is Christ alone your God?