The book of Isaiah 40 records these words from God,
In other words, who or what can ever compare to the God of Abraham. The 40th chapter goes on to say,
"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing" Isaiah 40:26
This is the definition of "Holy"; to be uniquely set apart from anything else. "Holy" means, in effect, to be in a category "reserved" where nothing else can compare. Isaiah says lift your eyes and see the heavens above you. Look at the greatness of the sky, the moon and all the stars that hang above you night after night all named and numbered with none missing (and you wouldn't know if one were). Our Holy God made it with great power and mighty strength. You won't find someone who can create these things. Isaiah mentions in this chapter that steel encased in gold (idols) cannot compare to the actual God; meaning they are not "Holy". They can not be compared to God.
Later in the chapter, Isaiah asks this question,
"Why do you complain; why do you say "The Lord does not know the way for me; my issue is disregarded by my God"? Isaiah 40:27
Why would you say that? Why would you even think that a God this grandiose would somehow be oblivious to our needs or be lost as to what He should do to help us? Isaiah says in verse 28,
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:28
Isaiah asks, Haven't you heard? God is everlasting! He is LORD! He is the creator of the earth from one end to the other. He does not faint. He does not get weary. He does not grow tired. And God's level of understanding is far outside of any realm of understanding that our brain chemicals could ever comprehend.
The highlight of this chapter to me is verse 31. Isaiah says this great God of ours will increase the strength of those who have become weary. Isaiah's claim is that those who wait on God will receive renewed strength to soar above the earth's population of people who do not wait on God. Isaiah writes that God will strengthen us to become like one of God's most awesome winged creatures; the Eagle,
"Those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" Isaiah 40:31
Eagles are the epitome of the bird species. Adult eagles have a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet which is taller than the average adult male. Eagles fly up to 65 mph in normal flight and dive at speeds of over 150 mph. And eagles live very intelligently. For example, they stay near open water where there is a consistent food supply and they nest in the tallest of trees. As a result, eagles have no natural predators who can threaten them based solely on their lifestyle.
The most significant thing about the eagle species is that eagles FLY HIGH! Eagles habitually soar at altitudes of 8,000 to 10,000 feet and even more. Eagles don't hang around ground level like other creatures. They fly HIGH; which means they have a view of this world which is quite different than any other animal. And they only travel with other eagles who fly as HIGH as they do. The winds, the seasonal air currants and drafts don't trouble eagles; because they fly above the wind currants. In fact, they use the wind and thermal updrafts to lift them up above the troubled air tides. Eagles can soar effortlessly using the wind currants for hours at a time.
Isaiah says this is a portrait of a person who waits patiently on God. The person who trusts God will SOAR in this life. Your thoughts and ideas; or in other words, your "wingspan" will be "wider" than people around you. And you'll notice that somehow, you are able to travel faster toward your goals than normal. You'll also find that your lifestyle is very different from others in the "species". You will make better choices and have a better attitude about everyday situations because of your altitude. All because you trust in an Almighty God; thus you draw from a better source. You depend on God to lead you to "still waters" where you can be fed without the constant danger of predators.
And the winds and waves of life's different seasons which perplex everyone else won't disturb your flight pattern because you will live your life by faith; above the currants. In fact, you will use things that were meant to slow you down to grow your faith and lift you above the trouble. And you will only feel comfortable traveling with other Christians that FLY HIGH. You'll only associate with those who are positive about life and full of vision. You'll hang with leaders, visionaries, ministers and others who are both willing and able to soar as HIGH and HIGHER than you do.
One last thing to notice: Note the analogy Isaiah did not make in this chapter,
"... You will soar on wings as buzzards... "
Why not? Buzzards fly high too. They can fly as high as 3,000 feet in the right conditions... And buzzards have an impressive wingspan too; just like eagles. So why didn't Isaiah suggest that we "mount up" on wings like buzzards?
Because the behavior of an eagle is completely different from that of a buzzard. Buzzards can fly high... but they prefer to stay near the ground (when not migrating). They don't soar; they're scavengers. They're survival is based on dead things. If you're ever driving along a road and see a cluster of buzzards, its a guarantee there's a dead animal's corpse in the area. And when they can find it, they love fresh roadkill over a decayed animal carcass. Buzzards eat anything that's dead--possums, squirrels, rabbits, deer, domestic animals even skunks (but they'll leave the scent pouch).
Isaiah says those who wait on God will not just fly, but FLY HIGH LIKE EAGLES! You will avoid scavengers with all your might and instead soar at altitudes far above the heads of those congregating around dead things. You won't make a "nest" at ground level. Instead, you'll fly at the highest of heights and view this wonderful world that God made from a distance far enough to realize you are only "in" this world for a while; but you are not "of" this world at all.
In exchange for your patient waiting, God is offering renewed strength to carry you HIGHER, FASTER and FURTHER then you ever thought you could go! Some will run and fall... Others will walk, then grow tired and stop... But they that wait on the LORD will be renewed with strength to rise up like eagles and soar; strength to run without getting weary; strength to walk, and NOT FAINT!
