Editorial

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
Tens of thousands of migratory birds fly over Israel each spring and fall in their passage to and from Africa. Most of these are birds of prey called raptors, meaning to catch up. (Our word rapture comes from the same root. Soon every true Christian will be raptured, caught up from the earth and so escape the coming judgment.) The same pattern of migration this month of October will be seen in many parts of the world as those many marvelous birds fly southward again.
Men who make metal birds (the airplane), have learned to respect the migration flights of birds and try to avoid the danger and damage collisions cause.
An Israeli pilot flying over Hebron looked down at his map and then remembered nothing more until he regained consciousness in a hospital. One of the raptors (a buzzard) had crashed through the canopy and into the ejection trigger ejecting him from the airplane, and in so doing, probably saved the pilot's life in the horrible crash of his plane.
Solomon, the king in Jerusalem, wrote, "As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." Prov. 26:22As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. (Proverbs 26:2). To everything there is a purpose. The swallow is one of the migratory birds and they are noted for returning to their original spot on the very same date each year. Surely creation displays the wisdom and power of the Creator.
The Lord questioned Job, "Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? [Notice this for they will be flying south this very month. The hawk is one of the raptors, like birds of prey that migrate over Israel.] Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off." Job 39:26-2926Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. (Job 39:26‑29).
Lawrence Jones of Ontario is a true friend of the abundant water fowl that nest and raise their brood in that area. He provides a refuge and food resource of land and lakes for them. He calls them and talks to them as he feeds them. Once when spending the winter in Florida, a flock of geese flew over and a friend said to him, "I wonder if your geese may be some of those." He called his familiar whistle and sure enough, one came right down to him proof of the wonders of God's creation.
When we consider the exact control our Lord God, the Creator, has over His creation and that birds know when and where they should arrive, and that, in obedience to the One who has "put wisdom in the inward parts," they do arrive, can we doubt Him? He has promised us saying, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Our Creator, our Redeemer knows when. He will come exactly on time. He also knows who He will "catch up." We know where we are going. Job 38:3636Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? (Job 38:36); John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3). Ed.