Call of the Wild - Lesson 9 - Subtle Birds

Opening thoughts …

From all these animals so far I hope we wave learned something in the past 8 weeks..
We have reviewed how we are not to be like serpents.

We learned from the canines that we are to not take liberty in our salvation.
And we learned to keep our eyes on the Master.

From the insects, goats and swine we learned that we are to maintain our testimony.
And to keep good company and remain at the right hand of our Master.

From the moths and worms we learned that God has an awesome plan for us.
And we are to not let the past hold us back.

From the sloth and the slug we learned we are not qualified to pass judgment on the Lord.
And we need to proceed with what He has laid before us.

From the scorpion, leopard and oxen we learned
To give our children all we can in terms of spiritual things.
And to be the best parents we can be.

And last week from the little and wise creatures we learned
That if we are not proceeding in wisdom we are proceeding as the fool.

Can anyone give testimony of growth from this class in the past two months?





Birds

Matthew 6:26, ‘Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?’

Luke 12:24 is the parallel passage for this verse and calls the fowls – ravens.

I believe God would have us give our hearts to His love and service,
And not worry ourselves with groveling anxieties.
It is good that we have these daily wants,
Because they lead us to Him;
But if we grow anxious,
We doubt our Lord and I believe that is sinful.
So we all admit the Lord loves us more than the birds …

Why do we not always trust Him to take care of us as He does them?





Matthew 23:37, ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!’

The reason people are not saved
is not that Christ is not able and willing to save them,
nor that they are not under obligation to be saved,
but that they will not come to Him,
or comply with the terms of salvation.

So then when they perish,
They will be their own destroyers,
And the guilt will rest forever on themselves.

What are we doing to ourselves when we do not go to Him?





If you had to describe a bird to someone who never say one before …
What would you say?





So what about the Ostrich and the peacock?

Flightless Birds

Job 39:13-18, ‘Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear; Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.’

We hear the expression, ‘Put your head in the sand,’ like an ostrich.
An example of someone who plays hide and seek by covering their eyes.
Where other birds have their young nest in a tree, free from predators.
This bird or these birds have to leave their young on the ground.

What do these verses of scripture say to you?





So yes the ostrich has her deficiencies,
But the ostrich is also able to outrun a horse.

Bird out of their Elements

Psalm 102:1-6, ‘Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.’

These figures express extreme loneliness.
Pelican’s need to be by the water, sitting safe on their perch.
Not in a wilderness with potential enemies lurking about.
The pelican in this situation is truly out of its elements.
I can imagine this bird at that time would be mourning.

I am sure the same for the owl.
A night creature who is at home in the woods.
How would he feel in the bright hot desert sand with little trees?
I can also imagine that he too would be
Mourning in solitude and casting out fearful cries.

How do we react when we are out of our elements?

How should we react when we are out of our elements?





Psalm 102:7-11, ‘I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.’

Your comments here …





Have you ever been so out of your elements
That you were not able to utter coherent words,
But only to groan and sigh?

Isaiah 38:14, ‘Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.’

‘undertake for me’ meaning, "be surety for" me;
Lord assure me that I shall be restored

How trained are our eyes to look upward?





So let’s look to God …

Matthew 8:19-20, ‘And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.’

Destitute of a home and its comforts.
Jesus is telling us that His followers must expect poverty and hardships,
and be prepared to bear them.

I believe also that the scriptures teach us that poverty is no disgrace,
Unless brought upon men by their own fault.
If they have sought gain …
Walked away from the Lord …
Or did not listen …

When we are poor we resemble the Redeemer in our outward condition,
more than the rich.
Remember we are to be more like Jesus,
This is the condition He chose for Himself while on earth.

Please share what is on your heart with these verses …





Matthew 10:29-31, ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.’

Our heavenly Father takes care of even the birds.
Surely He will take care of us.

Why do we doubt Him at times or often?





Closing thoughts …

We are not to worry ourselves with groveling anxieties.
The Lord knows what we need before we even ask.
I believe we prolong the pain,
And in turn the growth process by not going to Him early enough.

Let’s not put our head in the sand like an ostrich.
Let’s remember we are never truly alone.
Let’s train our eyes to look upward … sooner.

And once again, without disgrace,
We must expect hardships and be prepared to bear them.
Let’s stick to the scriptures when we are trying to be more like Jesus.
Don’t walk away when it gets rough and listen even more so.

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