Screaming Eagles

Why do I have a picture of my girl Machaela next to a guy in a big eagle suit? Good question. This picture was taken Sunday at Eastern Michigan University's Graduation. The school mascot is this eagle. They call him the Swoop the Screamin' Eagle. He may look victorious, but this eagle can't soar. I guess it's accurate to call him a screaming eagle, because EMU sports teams usually go away screaming in defeat!

Thank God that real eagles don't go down easily. In fact, in the Bible, God sometimes talks about his people as being like the eagle. Let's read this familar verse from Isaiah 40:

But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. -vs.31

When we think of the eagle, we think of strength. That is what God was trying to tell his people in this chapter. God spent a lot of time giving his credentials in this chapter. We read about how great, how powerful, and how wonderful God is. Let's read a bit of what this chapter tells up about God:

"Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills? -vs. 12

"Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best? No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales. He picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all." -vs. 14-15

"To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One.
Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away." -vs. 25-26

Why does God find it necessary to brag on himself? These people were having some real trouble. It seems that somewhere along the way, they forgot just how powerful God really is. In fact, in the 27th verse, God asks them this question:

"O Israel, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case?"

He was telling them that nothing gets past him. He could see the trouble they are in, and this immeasurable God who flung this universe into being was able to give them the strength they needed! Friends, whatever you are going through today, be encouraged that God not only sees you, but he will give you the strength to make it through!

Well, that is all for me today. I pray that this message has blessed you. God bless!

**Scipture taken from the New Living Translation