Screaming Eagles

 Jennifer Lynn Joy © 2004

Perhaps one of the most familiar Scriptures regarding eagles is Isaiah 40:31, "Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow tired, they will walk and not become weary."  Eagles are depicted as birds of prey (meat eaters) with cunning eyesight and powerful strength. They can see a field mouse in a 3-square mile space from 1000 feet altitude.  Additionally, eagles can see forward and side-to-side at the same time. 

As the Lion is known as the King of Beasts, the Eagle is known as the King of Birds. The word Eagle comes from the root word "to lacerate" in the Hebrew language and in the Greek language eagle means "taken from the air."

As humans, we have peripheral vision but not full as the eagle does. Yet, GOD our FATHER sees all and knows all. As believers sometimes it is necessary to step back and inquire to see any given situation from God's perspective, from HIS viewpoint. We need to go to the ONE who wants to give us HIS vision and perspective for the fullness of HIS design for our life.

There are many parables contained in the lifestyle of the eagle. The LORD GOD not only counts the number of hairs on our heads, HE counted the eagle’s feathers – exactly 7000. Amazingly, an eagle simply adjusts its feathers to accommodate a change in weather.  If it is too hot it fluffs the feathers allowing an influx of air. When it is too cold it brings the feathers closer together.  Perhaps as humans, we need to do the same…. just make a little adjustment for weather changes (emotional, spiritual, physical and mental temperature changes), fluffing and bringing together for both earthly and spiritual atmosphere changes. 

Since we have now entered the 3^rd day or the 7^th millennium – 7000 years since creation, many are speaking that we are in the day of the Eagles, the gathering of the Eagles.  The season of Eagles, which by definition means we are in a season with the LORD GOD giving us fuller vision, fuller perspective, fuller range, fuller discernment, fuller view of HIS plans and purposes on the earth as we seek HIS face and walk in obedience to HIM! 

Exodus 19:4, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself.” The eagles know how to ride the thermals flying at 30 miles per hour. They know how leave the confines of the earth and soar in the spiritual realm uninhibited with complete freedom, permitting the wind to carry them. Do we let the wind of the Holy Spirit carry us through and over difficult circumstances? Or do we just stop the extension of HIS mercy and grace with our fear, intimidating, murmuring and complaining? Over one million people died in the wilderness because of their ungratefulness and decision to keep idol worship in their lives. That fact alone ought to shake the ungratefulness out of us completely!

There are four kinds of eagles: 1) Crested Eagles 2) Sea Eagles which includes the Bald Eagle-America’s National Symbol 3) Tropical Eagles and 4) Golden Eagles which are known as “booted” because of the feathers that grow completely down their legs to their feet. The Golden Eagle is also known as the Crowned Eagle, which becomes more evident as they mature. 

Job 39:27-29, “Is it at your command that the eagle mount up, and makes his nest on high? On the cliff he dwells and lodges, upon the rocky crag an inaccessible place. From there he spies out food, His eyes see it from afar.”

 Generally speaking, when eagles nest they choose a high place safe from their enemies and a place near fresh water – usually a river. They build nests that often reach 9 feet in diameter and may weigh up to two thousand pounds.  We need to nest in a high place safe from our enemies and near the River of GOD.  Who or what are your enemies? Who or what keeps us from that safe place of peace in the LORD? Can we identify them? Perhaps too many hours in front of the TV, at sporting events, watching movies, shopping or whatever. We all have weaknesses that need to be overcome through submission and obedience to JESUS CHRIST.  We need to build nests that outlast storms. And we need to build nests near the River of GOD so that we always have food, especially spiritual food readily available, like the meat of the WORD daily.

Eagles mate for life. We need to do the same. Be faithful, true, and loyal in our relationships. Keep our covenant commitments. Be people of integrity. Ephesians 4:1-3, “I therefore the prisoner of the LORD, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  A manner worthy of the calling, the calling of GOD commands a manner of integrity, truth, love, patience, humility, gentleness and righteousness that is rare enough in the earth to be noticed by others.

There is a legend that Eagles are the only bird of prey that can fly directly into the sun therefore creating an impossible environment to be followed or pursued by their enemies. Eagles have two eyelids, which is why this is believed to be true. The parable is that we as Christians need to fly directly into the Son of Righteousness, JESUS CHRIST and therefore live in an environment that the enemy of our soul will not pursue us. Malachi 4:2, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” 

A pair of eagles will hatch one to three eaglets a season. If there are two, the larger one may destroy the smaller one. Eaglets are taught to stand before they are taught to fly. Over 40% of the eaglets die on their first flight out of the nest. Sometimes it seems that when the LORD is testing our faith we will surely die as we jump out of the nest in obedience to HIM. Yet, in this way we are not like the eagle, because even though it feels as though we will die, HE protects us as we walk in obedience to HIM.  We are the children of the MOST HIGH GOD and David wrote in Psalm 91:4,  "HE will cover you with HIS pinions, And under HIS wings you may seek refuge; HIS faithfulness is a shield and bulwark."  In the Hebrew language, the word “cover” in this Scripture is defined as to entwine as a screen, fence in, cover over, protect, defense, defend, hedge in, and to join together.  We are comforted by the promises of the LORD to protect us and cover us as we step out in faith to serve HIM! Eagles are not chicken hearted nor do they demonstrate chicken behavior. They are full of courage, boldness and see from a higher perspective. They soar above their circumstances.

Eagles parent mutually, one caring for the brood while the other hunts. Both participate in nest building. They do not abandon their young. It takes about 12 weeks before the eaglets are ready to fly. As parents we need to work together to build homes filled with the harmony and peace of GOD! David writes in Psalm 17:8, “Keep Me as the apple of Thine eye, Hide me in the Shadow of Thy wings.” Perhaps that is a model for all parents, to keep their children as the apple of their eye and to protect their children in the shadow of their wings. Purposing to love them, provide for them and keep them safe. In the same way GOD cares for us. HE is the model parent!

Psalm 103:1-5 proclaims, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless HIS holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of HIS benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” 

In closing, I would like to share a ministry testimony experience from a few years ago at a conference in Nashville, Tennessee. My dear friend Joy and I were ministering to an older woman that was brought to the front by her two friends. Joy turned the woman to face me and said that I needed to pray for her. As I had been standing behind the woman, this was my first time to look into her eyes. I immediately began screaming at the top of my lungs – the loudest and longest scream I have ever screamed in my life. Fortunately the music was very loud. Being raised Baptist I knew very clearly that it was improper to yell in church but I just could not stop screaming, as the sound did not seem to be my own. When the scream ended, these words came out of my mouth “I am screaming because you can’t.”  She fell into my arms sobbing deeply. It was one of those moments in ministry that I would have given anything for a word of knowledge, any insight from the Holy Spirit.  HE said nothing except that I was to give her my most favorite hand painted teal and purple silk scarf as a symbol that GOD had met her in this place. Words never crossed her lips as she slowly walked away clutching the scarf like a child’s lost teddy bear.

In my prayer time later that evening, I repented before the LORD, for missing it and screaming in church. Although the desire of my heart is to never quench the Spirit of God (I Thessalonians 5:19) it seemed for certain that I had completely missed the mark and my soul was grieved.

The next morning in church, one of the woman’s friends came running over to me, she exclaimed, “Do you know what you did last night?” As I am thinking, ‘Oh dear GOD, help me.’ she continues, “the woman that we brought to you for prayer.”  Hesitating, I said, “Well, we prayed for a lot of people.”  Leaning into my face, she says, “The woman you screamed at, DO YOU REMEMBER HER?”  All of my fears coming to surface, timidly I whispered, “Yes, I remember her. How is she?”  The woman begins jumping up and down, yelling, “She is free! She is free! She will never be the same!” As my fears returned down the path they came, the woman's friend takes time to explain that the woman was raped at the innocent age of twelve. When she went to tell her mother, her mother called her a liar and told her to never speak of it again. Over 50 years later, JESUS came and for reasons that only HE knows set her free through a very long loud scream.  HIS ways are certainly higher than mine!

Eagles do not have vocal chords as humans do, they screech out of a place deeper within them. They scream to release warnings to protect their own.

Obedience to the LORD often requires leaving the religious norms that confine us and walking in complete trust of the one who gave HIS life for us.

It is not about being the walking wounded, IT IS about being the resurrected, renewed, revived, rebuilt, rekindled, regenerated, restored and redeemed of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Embrace JESUS, it is your choice!

One SCREAMING EAGLE soared to new heights that morning in Nashville, Tennessee and more than one daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD was set free! Glory to HIS HOLY NAME!

Scripture References: Isaiah 40:31, Exodus 19:4, Job 39:27-29, Malachi 4:2, Psalm 91:4, Psalm 17:8, Psalm 103:1-5, Ephesians 4:1-3 and I Thessalonians 5:19.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~