You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, how I have carried you upon the wings of eagles, and have taken you to myself.
אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְמִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶתְכֶם֙ עַל־כַּנְפֵ֣י נְשָׁרִ֔ים וָאָבִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
God spoke to him, saying, You have witnessed firsthand the deeds I performed against the Egyptians, specifically the plagues I inflicted upon them both on land and in the sea. I elevated you as if on the wings of eagles while I led you through the cloud.
Following this, the sentiments of Israel at the base of Sinai become evident to all. While these feelings had not yet been fully articulated to Israel itself or made clear in its awareness, neither had they been sanctified by God or brought to fullness as a guiding principle. God establishes a covenant with His people, making promises that resonate with their heartfelt expectations or even their present experiences of His presence. In return, He seeks what they have long been willing to offer and entrust to Him.
"See ye yourselves," says the Lord, “what I have done unto the Egyptians, and have lifted you up as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself: and now if ye will hear My voice, and keep My covenant, ye shall be My chosen people from every tongue: for Mine is the whole earth: ye shall be My royal sanctuary, and My holy tongue” (Ex. 19:4-6). It is as if the Lord conveys that, in their own strength, they amount to nothing; yet He emphasizes how He has fortressed and exalted them in Egypt, how He has provided rest and safety thereafter. From this point forward, His protective grace will envelop them, as He selects them from among all nations, urging them to simply heed His call. This is the very desire of the people—a higher calling in faith.
Cook references Bochhart, highlighting a poignant insight he shared: In the Holy Scriptures, God's Providence is often compared to a bird safeguarding its offspring. In the Old Testament, this bird is the eagle, which rescues its chicks from peril through might and power. Conversely, in the New Testament, it takes the form of the coconut, which lovingly gathers its young under its wings. Across both Testaments, the essence of this care is love; in the Old Covenant, it is accompanied by thunders and trumpets, while in the New Covenant, it is embodied in the gentle demeanor of the Son of God, who brings a message of love and solace.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS