VISION FOR IMPACT (9)

“Does the EAGLE mount up at your command, and make its nest on high?” – Job 39:27

The scriptures severally used the imagery of the Eagle to portray the reality of Divine VISION for IMPACT: “Does the EAGLE mount up at your command, and make its nest on high? On the rock it dwells and resides, on the crag of the rick and the stronghold. From there it spies out the prey; its EYES observe from afar” (Job 39: 27-29). This scripture passage depicts the eagle’s majestic abilities, strength, high nesting, and ability to soar to great heights and demonstrate keen and focused vision.

Today’s text is part of God’s response to Job after the “great silence” in the preceding chapter 38. God responded to Job in a series of questions on cosmology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy, querying Job’s fitness to judge His control of the world. God used irony to point up Job’s ignorance. Job was sure that his speeches had been filled with wisdom and knowledge, but God’s first question ended his delusion: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2). We must be encouraged to know that God sees all! Like the eagle, He has His eyes on all, even while focused on one!

The parade of divine questions ended with two birds, the hawk and the eagle (vv.26-30). Who gave the birds the instinct to migrate and the knowledge to build nests? Not Job! Eagles build their nests high on the cliffs; but God gave them keen eyesight to see their prey from afar, swoop down, and capture it. The eagle resides, soars, and rides in the heights with a sharp eyesight that sees the details of its prey miles away! While most humans have 20/20 vision, eagles are blessed with an outstanding 20/5 visual acuity. That means that what looks sharp and clear to us at 5 feet is just as clear to an eagle from 20 feet away.

The soaring and nesting on high are proofs of God’s Power and Design. Just as He commands and empowers the eagle to operate in such high realms, the Lord is in control of all things. He has an Eagle’s Eye on all that is happening in this world, including what we are going through. The whole world is naked before Him (Heb.4:13). Just as the Eagle is described as the ‘Bird of the heaven’ or ‘king of the Sky’ so is God the Creator of all things and the “King of the Universe”!

Besides representing God’s Control, the eagle’s laser-focused eyesight and wider field of view, symbolize the Believer’s grace to discern truth and deepen spiritual understanding; the ability to perceive things from a higher perspective beyond mere physical sight. The eagle’s ability to see from afar is a metaphor for the elevated perspectives God provides; the ability to see beyond immediate circumstances and recognize the bigger picture while not losing focus of the pointed vision. God delights in releasing such rewarding understanding.