Mount up with wings Like eagles

Mount up with wings Like eagLes

The phrase “mount up with wings like eagles” has become a powerful symbol of strength, renewal, and divine provision.

“But those who hope in 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 )

This imagery of soaring like eagles offers deep comfort to those facing challenges and provides a reminder that trusting in God will restore our strength and help us rise above our struggles.

1. The Context of Isaiah’s Message

Isaiah’s prophecy was delivered at a time when Israel, the chosen people of God, was in a state of despair. The nation had been suffering under the oppression of foreign powers, particularly the Assyrians, who invaded and conquered their lands. By the time we reach Isaiah chapters 40-48, Israel had nearly given up hope, feeling abandoned and forgotten by God. The political and social turmoil had left them spiritually weary and struggling to hold onto their faith.

Isaiah, however, offers a message of comfort and hope.

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” ( Isaiah 40 :1 )

Through the prophet, God reassures the Israelites that despite their circumstances, He had not abandoned them. Instead, God promises to renew their strength, just as He had done for them in the past

2.The Imagery of Eagles in Scripture

The metaphor of eagles in Isaiah 40 is significant.

but those who hope in 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 )

In ancient Hebrew culture, eagles were admired for their strength, power, and their ability to soar above storms. The eagle was seen as a noble creature, symbolizing courage, resilience, and divine protection. Eagles were also associated with care for their young, as they would carry their eaglets to safety, protecting them from danger.

This image of eagles appears in Scripture, where God speaks to the Israelites about their deliverance from Egypt.

“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” ( Exodus 19: 4 )

The use of “eagles’ wings” here refers to God’s strength and protection as He carried the Israelites out of slavery and toward freedom. God’s power and care were likened to the eagle’s ability to soar above the storm and carry its young to safety. Isaiah uses this same image, reinforcing the idea that those who remain faithful to God and trust in His promises will experience a divine renewal of strength. Just as God carried His people out of Egypt, He promises to carry them (and us) through life’s challenges.

3.The Meaning of “Mount up” (ˈALah)

The phrase “mount up” in Isaiah 40:31 is a translation of the Hebrew word ˈalah, which means “to go up, ascend, or go over a boundary.” This verb conveys the idea of rising above obstacles and overcoming limitations.ˈalah suggests that those who wait upon the Lord will not only endure their challenges but will be elevated beyond them.

Isaiah is not simply describing a future deliverance but a renewal of strength that allows believers to transcend their limitations, much like an eagle soaring above the storm. The promise is clear: God will provide His people with the strength to rise up and overcome the difficulties they face, if they wait on His timing and trust in His sovereignty.

4.God’s Promise to Israel and to us

Isaiah’s words would have resonated deeply with the Israelites, as they likely recalled God’s past acts of deliverance. The imagery of soaring on eagles’ wings would have reminded them of their miraculous escape from Egypt, when God delivered them with great power and strength. Now, Isaiah is offering a similar promise of renewal: If the people would trust in God and remain faithful, He would renew their strength and deliver them once more.

For Christians today, this promise is just as powerful. Life can often be filled with challenges, whether they are personal struggles, health issues, or social and economic pressures. If we remain faithful to God, He will renew our strength. We may not always be able to see the way forward, but we can trust that God will carry us through, just as He has done for His people throughout history.

Paul echoes this idea when he writes:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting a way, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” ( 2 Corinthians 4: 16 ).

Even when circumstances seem bleak and we feel weary, God’s grace is continually at work within us, renewing our inner strength

5. Application for Christians to Day

God’s promise assures us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, trusting in His perfect timing and sovereignty. As we face life’s struggles, we are encouraged not to rely on our own strength but to place our hope in God. This hope is not passive; it is an active, expectant waiting on the Lord’s power and provision.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”( 2 Corinthians 12: 9 -10 )

In times of weariness and discouragement, we can draw strength from God’s promise to renew us. Just as eagles soar above the storm, rising above the turbulence of the skies, we too can rise above our struggles when we trust in God’s ability to renew and strengthen us. God provides the power and courage we need to endure. Like the Israelites who were sustained in the wilderness, we too are promised that God will give us strength and endurance through every trial, enabling us to rise above our circumstances and trust in His sustaining grace.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” ( Philippians 4: 13 )

This verse reminds us that our strength comes from Christ, and through His power, we can overcome anything life throws at us.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” ( Psalm 28: 7 )

In times of difficulty, we can trust that the Lord is our source of strength and will help us through every challenge. Here, King David declares that God is his strength and safety, showing that God strengthens His people and enables them to stand firm in the face of adversity.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ( Isaiah 41: 10 )

This verse is a powerful assurance that God promises to strengthen and help His people, holding them up in times of trouble.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” ( Romans 8: 37 )

Even in our weaknesses and struggles, through Christ, we are empowered to be victorious and more than conquerors.

God’s Word is filled with assurances that when we rely on His strength, we can endure trials and emerge stronger, just as the eagle soars above the storm. In the moments when we feel weakest, God’s power shines through, renewing our strength and giving us the endurance we need to rise above