Eleanor came home one evening to find her children huddled together. She wondered what they were doing with such interest. When she finally got a glimpse of what was going on, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Right in the middle of the circle were several baby skunks. She screamed at the top of her voice, “Children, run!” Each kid grabbed a skunk and ran!
The people of Israel were like this when God rescued them from slavery. Each one grabbed something from Egypt and ran in a different direction. They grabbed hold of idolatry and cultural ways that were not like God’s ways, but like Egypt. God had a lot of work to make an obedient people out of this group. They were often disobedient, faithless, and obstinate. Nonetheless, he had chosen them, and their life as a free nation had begun.
Once when I was working at my computer, one of my little granddaughters was sitting in my lap. She was digging in my shirt pocket. As I looked out of the corner of my eye, I watched the stuff all being extracted piece by piece from my pocket. She examined each piece very meticulously: my glasses, my pens, my papers, and I thought that was all I had, but she kept putting her little hand deep into my pocket. I didn’t pay much attention because I thought she had pretty well cleaned me out. After a few minutes, I noticed she was relatively quiet and wasn’t fidgeting. I looked down at her, and she had found a toothpick and had it in the corner of her mouth exactly the way I do. She was imitating me. The one thing we want to do is learn to imitate Christ and not this world.
As parents and grandparents, we should remember that our kids and grandkids are imitating us. We may not realize it, but they are absorbing everything that they see and hear. We want to learn to imitate him and not the people around us. We also want to live in such a way that those who are watching us will be imitating Christ when they imitate us. God was proposing to his people that they learn to imitate him, not the people around them.
Exodus 19:3-6 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
They had seen God, what did—10 incredible plagues that broke the chains of slavery. They saw it and experienced it. They exited Egypt in mass by the hand of God. They saw God deliver them from Pharaoh’s hand when they were between his army and the Red Sea. How many times had God swooped down and carried his people on eagles’ wings? They had arrived at the mountain where God promised they would come. God had made good his promise, and now they would worship him on his holy mountain.
This is a picture of a mother eagle caring for her young.
Eaglets are especially helpless, remaining in the nest for as much as 3 months
until they are big enough to fly. The eagle builds an enormous nest, 6 feet in
diameter and 5 feet in depth, for its eaglets. They are delighted to play and
wait for their food to be delivered to their mouths. They live this comfortable
life unaware of the day they will have to fly. Getting the eaglets out of the
nest is a gradual process. The birds are taught to flap their wings to build
coordination. They are enticed to venture out near the nest and flap their
wings to build muscle. Food is often reduced, but ultimately, the eaglets have
to take the leap. “When it is time for the young birds to leave the nest and
learn to fly, the eagle stirs up the nest, but does not abandon her young. If
they experience difficulties, the mother swoops down below them. She lifts them
on its wings, bringing them back to safety.” They are now expected to leave the
nest and learn to fly. They have become quite comfortable and don’t want to
leave the nest. Now staring down two thousand feet through the holes, they
decide that Mom is serious about this thing called flying. She watches each
one. They are hundreds of feet in the air, learning to use their wings for the
first time is a frightening experience, but when they fail to fly. She spreads
her wings and swoops under them and carries them back again to try again.
Such an illustration is what Moses said God did with Israel, time and time again, in the wilderness. No incident is as graphic as this —the crossing of the Red Sea and his provision and safety in the desert. They had been delivered from slavery, but they were vulnerable to starvation and to attack by their enemies. So God lifted them up on his mighty wings, providing them with food, water, and victory in battle. He does the same for us today!
