Daily Devotional for Tuesday, November 15

Shadow of His Wings

When we hear the phrase, “He or she took so and so under their wing,” we know exactly what that means. Sayings work because they paint us a picture of what has happened. This phrase comes from nature, where adult birds literally take their young under their wings to protect, teach and nurture them until they can fend for themselves. As the saying applies metaphorically, it means basically the same thing. Older and wiser people take younger and vulnerable humans “under their wing,” to protect, teach and nurture them until they can fend for themselves. 

Our Heavenly Father takes us under His wing for similar reasons. Just like young birds, there our sustenance is provided, and we are safe from predators. Just like a shadow provides protection from merciless summer heat, being under the wings of God’s lovingkindness provides a refuge for His children. 

Two lessons come to mind here. Lesson one says, what happens to the little birds that wander out from under the protective wings of their mother? They are not provided for, and they likely will be eaten by predators; this is true for all of us as well. When we wander from the wings of God’s protection and guidance, we lose His provision and protection. 

Lesson two is this, an adult bird will die to protect her young. God the Son also died for us. Yet, He did not stay dead, but was gloriously resurrected in three days. He still lives, and we can still live under the protection of His wings! As long as we stay there, He offers provision and protection; when we go out on our own, we are just that...on our own. 

JUST A THOUGHT: God never runs off and leaves us alone; we are always the ones doing the running.

Wally Fry