Exodus 19:2-8a (NRSV)
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Verse 2They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Verse 3Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: Verse 4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Verse 5Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, Verse 6but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites." Verse 7So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. Verse 8The people all answered as one: "Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
Devotion
“…I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” (v. 4)
A woman I knew suffered from clinical depression and was admitted to Fairview hospital on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Each day from her room on the tenth floor, she could see the soaring eagles over the river, and she remembered this verse. The majestic birds gave her hope and strength. Their wings were symbols of faith and trust, and in the dark night of her soul, the Spirit gave her comfort and encouragement.
Perhaps God created the eagles to remind us of the power of God’s love and the possibilities of our faith. Like an eagle’s wings, faith and love can lift us above our darkness into the light of God’s sun and help us soar even when we feel like we are falling. These wings will not only uphold us, but they will bring us to God as well.
Prayer
Gracious God, give us the eagle’s wings of faith and hope. Bring us to yourself. Amen.