Being "carried" by God does not mean avoiding all the difficulties, traumas, sicknesses, injustices, etc. that are part of a fallen world. Through it all, God wants us to become stronger and stronger in Him and in His love.

"Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they … set up camp at the base of Mount Sinai … The Lord called to Moses … and said, 'Give these instructions to the family of Jacob … You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know [if you think deeply and meditate on it] how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth'" (Ex. 19:1-6).

(The on-going journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land should have taken eleven days; in fact it took forty years. This was due to their cowardice, rebellion and unbelief – which God called their "treating him with contempt" and "conspiring against him".)

The Lord carried his people "on eagle's wings" from slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai where he entered into a personal covenant with them and gave them the Ten Commandments. In practice, the journey had been pretty traumatic: crossing the Rea Sea while fleeing form Pharaoh's advancing army; nearly dying of hunger and thirst; experiencing a war with the Amalekites and many other tests of their faith. God's perspective is very different from our own. The giant eagles of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are magnificent rescuers and great favourites of ours.

I love all types of birds, even the much maligned vultures which are in fact the natural incinerators of deadly diseases and toxic waste. When we lived in Downton, as well as all the common country garden birds, we regularly saw long-tailed tits, nut hatches, gold finches, tree creepers, reed buntings, king fishers, kestrels, buzzards and kites, plus the occasional sparrow hawk and barn owl. Sometimes right up close! We also backed onto the Avon and saw black as well as white swans, herons, grebes and other unusual ducks. On one occasion we counted well over 100 swans in a 25 metre stretch of river and in a nearby field over 40 roosting herons. The swans were being held at bay by a valiant and vigilant male who was defending his mate and their young. What a husband and father!

In a recent blog I sought to answer the question: What is God like? My answer was: God is full of loving kindness towards all he has created. Each of us has been fearfully and wonderfully made in the very image of God in order to treat every other person with the greatest respect and loving kindness. Today I would like us to think of God being like an eagle – both male and female are included – and a mother hen!

"Like an eagle that protects her nest, then rouses her chicks and hovers over her young [teaching them how to fly], so the Lord spread his wings to take up his people and carry them safely on his pinions" (Dt. 32:11).

Just before the cross Jesus lamented: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing" (Mt 23:37).

I have a vivid memory from Africa of a hen with her large brood rummaging around in our front "garden" when a dog suddenly came through the gate. The hen immediately charged the dog and sent him packing! What amazing courage! When chicks find themselves in the path of huge driver ants that eat all in their way – including resting boa constrictors nine metres long – the mother hen swiftly gathers them under her wings. Of course she gets eaten first. She acts in the same way at the approach of a forest fire. How God's beautiful creation reveals so much of his love for us! The Father is a soaring eagle and the Son is a courageous hen!

The Psalmist wrote, "Hide me in the shadow – in the shelter – of your wings – within your unfailing love; let me find rest and refuge there" and "I sing in the shadow of your wings [I feel so safe and secure all I want to do is sing your praises]".

"Those who hope in the Lord [who trust in, wait on and rest in the Lord] will renew their strength [the Lord's strength will be theirs]. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary;  they will walk and not be faint [they will be transformed and sustained]" (Is. 40:31).