THE GRACEFUL SWAN (Lev. 11:18). How pretty she is as she sails along the river. But her feet are not so pretty and she is a very poor walker. God said of that pretty bird that she is unclean. She is like an unsaved sinner—unclean in His sight. “We are all as an unclean thing.” Is. 64:4. Often what we admire is not pleasing to God. But how clean in God’s sight are those who are washed in the blood of His dear Son! “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psa. 51:7.
THE WEARY DOVE (Gen. 8:9). Noah sent her forth from the ark, but after roving across the lone waste of waters and finding no rest for her foot, no wonder she was weary. There was no place of rest to the weary dove save in the ark. There is no rest to the weary sinner, save in Christ. See how the dove flies toward the only place of refuge and rest! And she was not rejected for Noah put out his hand and took her in again. I know of many who have found their rest like that in Christ. They came to Him “weary and worn and sad,” and He took them in and gave them sweet rest. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.
THE EAGLE (Deut. 32:11). Last of all we have the powerful eagle, with her eyrie in the high rocks. Her care for her young in teaching them to fly is given as an illustration of the Lord’s care over all who are saved. He bears them on eagle’s wings upward, their strength is renewed as the eagle’s (Is. 40:31), and one day He will bear them homeward to the glory above. How safe, how happy are they who have such a God who will bring them home to heaven!
J. R.
ML-05/13/1962