By Jill Roberts and Michael Canalé
Does it seem counterintuitive that the Bible sets forth that we soar the highest when we have boundaries, when there are rules in our lives? At first blush, certainly, this appears to be a dichotomy with all the contradictions that this word implies. However, it is critical to living a joyful life to look past the superficial impression we may, at first, have and to, instead, peer deeply into how God is assuring us in Scripture that boundaries and true freedom actually are matching bookends and not at all a contradiction in terms.
The narrative context for this divine proposition takes us to a point in time when Moses and the Israelites have been out of Egypt for three months. They have just arrived in the desert of Sinai where they pitched their tents and set up camp before Mount Sinai. Most of us are well aware that it is on this historic mountain that the Ten Commandments will be given. However, the preamble to this momentous event may not be nearly so well known.
Michael says,
“Everything always boils down to God.”
How true this is. Here, near this iconic Mount Sinai, the first thing that happens is related to God.
“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 in Egypt, and how I carried you ON EAGLES’ WINGS and brought you to myself.”
(emphasis added)
(Exodus 19:3-4) NIV
What are some of the words we generally associate with the phrase, “on eagles’ wings?”
Certainly, we think of “soaring” and “magnificence.” There are many words that come to mind, but, perhaps, none more than “freedom.” Moses and the Israelites were carried out of Egypt and slavery by slavery’s very antithesis — a new freedom, not experienced by the Israelites in over 400 years.
Another fascinating use of eagles’ wings occurs in Isaiah 40;31 NIV:
“They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not grow faint.”
Those who fly on eagles’ wings know a special freedom from fatigue, from the frailties of the human condition. They soar freely. This was how Israel was brought from slavery, liberated from the bounds of their previous lives.
Surely, therefore, God, Who had raised them up into unfettered freedom was not now going to place boundaries that would, in and of themselves, place limits on the Israelites’ newly found liberty. Once God raised them up, surely, He had no intention of binding them all over again.
Well, as stated above, at first blush, it might appear that this is exactly what God intended.
For, the next thing that God established, in speaking to Moses, was a covenant that was conditional, that put limits on His own blessings:
“Now IF you obey me fully and keep my covenant, THEN 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.”
(emphasis added)
(Exodus 19:5-6) NIV
(To this covenant, the Israelites agreed, verbally, to Moses, that they would obey these rules.)
Wait a minute! In our world today, where we deservedly extol the virtues of UNCONDITIONAL love, did God’s words, to be conveyed to Israel by Moses, rest on the foundation of a CONDITION? Yes, there was a condition imposed by God on His ultimate blessings. HOWEVER, there was not then, nor is there, today, any condition on God’s love.
If we have seen anything in the Old Testament, thus far, it is the unconditional love and patience of this God! To say that He is long suffering is an understatement. But, is He expecting holiness? Yes, He is.
Furthermore, for these Israelites, whom God carried, soaring on eagles’ wings, there were other limits, more boundaries. The Torah reads:
“And you shall set boundaries for the people around…the mountain.”
(Exodus 19:12)
And then, after three days, during which the Israelites washed and were told to “not go near a woman.” (Exodus 18:15) Torah, God spoke to Moses with words that limit conduct, even today — He gave them the Ten Commandments. He placed boundaries around those who soared in on eagles’ wings. He gave rules to limit the behavior of those He freed from slavery in Egypt.
As God gave these Commandments, He did so with thunder and lightning and a violently quaking mountain. So many times, God speaks in a small, still voice, but not on that day of days. This time, Mount Sinai was covered in smoke. The effect of all of this was trembling and fear on the part of the Israelites. Soon, they said to Moses,
“Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
(Exodus 20:19) NIV
As Michael says,
“In this world, you’ll be filled with something.”
In the case of the Israelites, it was fear and, much worse, it was to choose Moses, a powerful man, but a mere man, to lead them, choosing him over God, Himself.
How prone we all are to do exactly the same thing. Later, in this study, we will see the Israelites repeat this behavior with regard to wanting a human King and, therefore, again rejecting God, the Creator of the Universe, as their King.
This is found in 1 Samuel 8:5 where the elders of Israel approached Samuel and said,
“…now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
How humanity is drawn to the conventional thought on any given subject. This is not at all how the Bible teaches us that God thinks.
Michael says,
“You’re not supposed to have an ego that causes you to draw lines.”
We are not wise to, ourselves, place boundaries around our love of God — or to limit HIS leadership or kingship.
On the other hand, God in His Covenant with Israel and with the Ten Commandments, sets boundaries for the Israelites and with us. In the same breath, He has us soaring like eagles and, yet, living with limits. Why? In Scripture, God is saying that you are never at greater heights in this life than when you know and follow certain boundaries that the LORD in His matchless love and wisdom has set.
The vastness of a world that lacks the laws of God’s rule book is not beautiful; it is terrifying.
Michael so correctly says,
“Such a world means you’ve gotten to the end of doing the right things.”
It is chaotic, while God’s world is ordered in such a way that actually frees us to be our best selves.
Michael’s words resonate:
“With the Ten Commandments, God is teaching us how to think.”
When we have learned this, we will have learned the heart of these commandments. We will automatically take the path that leads to the holiness that God mandates for us. It is this state of mind that counterintuitively, but truly, will keep us carried on eagles’ wings.
How interesting that God would almost immediately, upon Moses’ first appearing to Him on Mount Sinai, choose to have the Israelites be reminded that their transportation to that place was on eagles’ wings. He could just as easily have started with the rules, the commandments. But, He didn’t.
Michael and I find consistent with this, the verses from the Torah that record Moses telling the Israelites, who, as we said, trembled with fear after the thunder and lightning which accompanied God’s giving the Ten Commandments, the following words designed to comfort and encourage the Israelites:
“But Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, for God has come to EXALT you.”
(Exodus 20:16)
We must never forget that God is actually raising us to new spiritual heights with every commandment that He gives us, with every limitation He places on mankind’s behavior.
Michael says that, with these rules,
“God is cleaning the palette of the Earth.”
The LORD seems to be saying to the Israelites, as well as to us, today,
“I am exalting you into holiness. I am limiting certain behavior, so that you may soar. The rules will give you eagles’ wings of goodness, boundaries of freedom which will teach you what it really is to fly. As such, as the saying goes, the sky, beautiful and true, is the limit.”
As a school administrator, I used limits. They did help students soar. As a military pilot, Russ had a poem called High Flight. The last line is… And touched the wings of God. How often our daily life is touched by God’s hand and wings? When I read your thoughts, it makes me mindful of how we are supportive to ourselves and others through our faith and God’s words. Thanks as always.