Deuteronomy 32:11-12 As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings:… I. GOD CORRECTS HIS PEOPLE. When the young eagles are strong enough to fly, but shew no inclination to do so, the mother bird "stirreth up her nest." Special reference is here made to the "nest" which God provided for the seventy souls who went down into Egypt (Genesis 47:6). "Their cattle throve, they had fine possessions, and a monarch's favour." At length Joseph died, and his services were forgotten. The once favoured people came to be regarded as little better than beasts of burden. They were hemmed in by forts; they were set to hard labour. Their nest became so uncomfortable towards the close of the four hundred and thirty years in Goshen, that they resolved to try their wings, and soar away to the "promised land." 1. Wealth, houses, costly furniture, and pictures make a comfortable nest, and are harmless so long as they do not tempt us to spiritual indolence. Alas, how few know how to use this world without abusing it! Care for his earthly comfort has been cultivated to such an extent as to almost take away all relish for spiritual things. 2. God, in mercy, often stirs up the nests of such people. Business fails, and their resources are cut off. As one said, "God took the man's son from his hearthstone, but that led him to seek comfort in the only begotten Son of God." In the midst of his anguish he learned this lesson, "God is love." He took away little, but He gave him much. If God did not stir up some people's nests, they would sink down into utter worldliness. II. GOD COMPASSIONATES HIS PEOPLE. "She fluttereth over her young." Let us ever remember that God is more compassionate than the tenderest mother. A religion born of terror can never be a healthy, vigorous religion. When you come to God for salvation, and when you look to Him for help to do life's work and to face life's difficulties, don't come to Him as though He were a God who is always looking for faults, and anxious to find them. III. GOD TRAINS HIS PEOPLE. The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness, and they might have fared worse. That journey had other advantages besides leading them to Canaan. Its long marches and desert sands developed powers of endurance which had lain dormant amid the fleshpots of Egypt. There are in most people faculties and energies imprisoned, pent up. IV. GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE. The parent bird, while training her young, protects them. If a storm is brewing, or a fowler points at her young ones, does she abandon them without an effort to save them? (H. Woodcock.) Parallel Verses KJV: As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: |
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