by
Lee Frances Heller
For The Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land and in the waste, howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him. He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, So the Lord alone did lead him.
(Deuteronomy 32:9-12)
EL SHADDAI -- Our God of More Than Enough
I find encouragement in how the mother eagle takes care of her young. It's one of the most beautiful stories in all of nature. In The Bible the mother eagle is likened to God Himself. And when you study her ways you realize what a beautiful portrayal this is of the Father.
In the preparation for the birth of her offspring, the Mother eagle builds her nest high in the mountains. She forms it with twigs, lines it with briars, then covers them with bits of fur and soft downy feathers plucked from her own breast.
When the little eaglets burst into the world, they have it made. The mother eagle provides for their every need---food, security, comfort and serenity. Life is beautiful. The mother's presence is reassuring, loving, powerful. And they grow in peace.
Then after several weeks of bliss, the mother eagle starts stirring the nest with her sharp talons, digging out the soft feathers and fur, exposing the briars and leaving the bewildered eaglets in a state of shock. They begin to squirm and flutter trying to escape the sharp briars and somehow find refuge from this horrible nightmare thrust upon them. But no matter how hard they struggle to get comfortable again, the nest is now a place of suffering.
Suddenly the mother eagle rises above them, unfolds her wings and arches them as if to say, "Don't worry, I am watching over you, everything's in control." Placing the tip of one great wing on the rim of the nest, she encourages the little ones to get off the briars and onto her wing. Confused by her strange actions, the eaglets hesitate, wondering what to do next. Then, having no other choice they wobble on to the outstretched wing.
WHOOOOOSH !! She takes off and begins to soar, her little ones holding on for dear life. They are paralyzed with fear, and yet they are exhilarated by what's happening. They've never seen this dimension of life before, soaring above the clouds and riding the jet streams with such majesty. They begin to relax and enjoy the ride. Then mother returns them to the nest and covers the briars again.
After a few flights, one day they are gliding about at a high altitude, when the mother does another unexpected thing. She suddenly drops her wing throwing the little eaglets into mid-air. They begin falling heading for certain death on the jagged cliffs below. Tumbling helplessly, end over end the little balls of feathers screech frantically for help. But it looks like the end. Then with God given precision, the mother eagle dives straight down, swoops under the little ones and catches them on her wing.. .just in time to rescue them.
She repeats the process again.. . then repeats it until her little ones reach out with their frail little wings one day and discover they are able to take to the wind themselves. Suddenly they are buoyant, flying on their own.
You may be wondering what certain things are happening to you. Why you've been hit with overwhelming losses and disappointments. Jesus provides the answer in John 10:10
"The thief does not come except to steal and kill and to destroy. I have come that they might have life and that may have it more abundantly."
The enemy may try to come against you, but remember, like the mother eagle, God is undoubtedly preparing you for something greater. Be sensitive to God's Holy Spirit. Be willing for El Shaddai---our God of more than enough---to stir your nest for a higher purpose. God uses these experiences to help you mature as a Christian.
Borrowed from the book, El Shadclef by Vicki Jamison
There are many Old Testament names for God and El Shaddai is one of them to tell us of His abundance of love and sufficiency for our lives when we trust Him.
