Isaiah 40:31.
“But those who wait on 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.”
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Have you ever had a night when you just couldn’t sleep? Me too. It really used to bother me that I couldn’t shut my brain off. Then I realized that I could make good use of the time, visit with Jesus and hear His sweet voice speaking to me. Here is what I heard last night.
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Wings Like Eagles.
In the opening scripture, God says that those who wait upon the Lord shall “renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles.” Why eagles?
Well, there are a number of reasons “Why eagles.” First of all, they are a picture of our Father Who protects us and covers us with His wings, much as a mother eagle covers and protects her young. When David penned the words of Psalm 91 verse 4, one of the pictures that came to his mind was the innermost covering of the tabernacle of Moses, pictured below:
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If you had been the high priest of ancient Israel, whenever you entered the holy of Holies and looked up, over your head you would see wings! The wings of eagles!
But there are other characteristics of eagles that God had in mind.
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Enemy Of Snakes.
Another very interesting characteristic of eagles is that THEY EAT SNAKES. It’s true! In Psalm 91:13 we read that when we dwell in the secret place of the Most High, we will “tread upon the lion and the cobra. The young lion and the serpent we will trample underfoot.” I guess He wasn’t kidding!
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Of course, all of the pictures, types, and shadows in scripture are of our Lord Jesus first and foremost. He was the One, after all, Who “trampled the serpent underfoot” first. He is the One about whom the Gospel of John describes as coming directly to us from heaven. That’s why an eagle is a depiction of that Gospel. If that a new idea to you, you may follow the link below to read all about that topic:
https://emmausroadministries.international/2021/11/10/gospel-series-part-2-why-we-have-four-gospels/)
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But wait: there’s more!
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Secrets In The Hebrew Language.
Hebrew reads from right to left and is a language of picture writing, like Chinese. Each letter is a picture of something as well as a number, a color, and a musical note. These are very consistent.
What is so fascinating is the “pictures” God uses to spell words. They can actually give us glimpses into what words mean from His vantage point and lend to deeper understanding that you could never get from any definition. The Hebrew word for “Eagle” does not disappoint!
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This is the Hebrew word for eagle: nesher. The letters from right to left are “Nun, shin, resh.”
נ : Nun is a picture of a fish. 🐟
ש : Shin means “Shaddai,” as in El Shaddai. This Name of God in particular is a very interesting one. It paints a picture of a nurturing mother, like an eagle protecting and sheltering her young;
ר : Resh means “Head, think, or meditate.
Notice that the letter “Shin” is in the middle of the word with “Nun” on one side and “Resh” on the other side. The word pictures tell us that a believer is like an eagle when you think and meditate on El Shaddai, the One Who preserves, protects, and provides for you. This makes you soar like the eagle!
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This is a also picture of every believer! When you come to Christ, you have asked Jesus to come into your heart. Your body (Nun) and your mind (Resh) are made alive when Jesus comes into your heart and breathes life into your spirit! He dwells in the midst of you and never leaves nor forsakes you.
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Literal Physical Renewal.
Psalm 103:5 also makes mention of the eagle: “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s,” referring to God of course. When you meditate and focus on Him, your body is literally renewed.
Eagles are a very usual species. When they get on in years, their feathers, talons, and beak become worn and tattered. They will fly up to a very high, solitary place, they pluck them all out and remain in that place until everything grows back, a process that takes about five months.
During this entire time, the eagle is completely helpless, relying only on God to protect them. When all is renewed, it flies off with new feathers, talons, and beak. New body, old mind.
In the same way, Sarah’s youth was literally renewed to the point that, at he ripe old age of 90, she was able to conceive and bear a child. Also, a heathen king actually wanted her for his harem. How many women that age get such an invitation? Bear in mind that this king was not “spiritual.” He went by his eyeballs, so it wasn’t her “spirit” he was admiring.
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Isn’t God amazing! Now you know why he shows us how we can be like eagles: By waiting upon the Lord!
