Birds of the Bible
4. The Vulture – Bird of Faith
“There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which
the vulture’s eye hath not seen”
(Job 28:7)
Image: morguefile.com
I am sure you are aware of the great variety of character among our human race. There are physical differences and there are also many differences of temperament and behaviour. We tend to find some people appealing to us while others may make us turn away.
Have you noticed the same in the animal kingdom? God has given to each species a unique character by which we can identify it and from which we can learn. After God had made everything he took all the creatures of the land and air and “brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them” (Gen.2:19). Adam observed each creature carefully and gave it a suitable name.
This month’s bird is certainly not known for its attractiveness! The vulture is a byword for greed and cruelty and much about it repels us. Vultures have a strange, even ugly, appearance with their heads and necks almost bare of feathers. As birds of prey their bills are usually sharp and strong. They possess a good sense of smell for finding their food. And their food may be anything from insects and eggs to carrion and even human corpses, such as those who have died in battle and could not be buried. No wonder this bird is disliked!
Living in mountainous or open country the vulture has another feature which enables it to locate its prey. It has a remarkable sight. It can look over great distances and see what other birds cannot see. And yet as Job tells us there are some things which even the vulture is unable to see. In this the vulture teaches us about faith.
We should know that real faith is not often found in man. We like to depend upon ourselves and we are so proud of our knowledge, wisdom and strength. Today we even think that we can live without God at all. After all, we can answer most of the questions about life and death and science will soon show us the way to a perfect world! This is the sad state of sinful man.
Faith is the gift of God to his people. It is a special sort of sight which enables us to know God. Faith is spiritual sight. God cannot be seen with the naked eye but he can certainly be known. Sin has made us spiritually blind but by faith we are able to see again. Even blind men in the Bible had faith in the Lord (Matt.9:27-30). By faith we look into those things which are beyond our ordinary senses.
True faith believes whatever God says. Have you read of Noah? God warned him of the great flood which would destroy the wicked world of his day. Noah must build an ark to save his family and take with him pairs of every bird and animal. So Noah began building the ark. There were no rising waters to be seen. There were no dark storm clouds in the sky. In fact there had not ever been so much as a drop of rain upon the earth up to this time! While he worked on the ark, year after year, others mocked. But Noah, being a godly man, believed the word of the Lord. By faith he could see what would surely come later in his own lifetime.
Moses was also a man of faith. He grew up in Egypt with all its treasures and pleasures but he was determined to live for eternity. You see, he was looking to the Lord Jesus Christ. From a great distance, centuries before it happened, he saw the coming of the Saviour into the world. He was fearless of men and he followed the Lord until his dying day. This is the Bible’s testimony to Moses: “he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb.11:27).
We must look into the Scriptures if we are to see clearly. Without them we remain blind but in them we see many wonderful things. We see the glory of a God who is so holy and pure while we are so very sinful. We learn of his love for sinners like ourselves. We discover his mercy and grace in the promises of the gospel. By faith I see Jesus Christ dying for my sins at Calvary! I rest upon him and his sacrifice. This is the path to God and the only way to everlasting happiness.
A believer must also learn by his experience. The ways of God may be hidden from us. Sometimes, like even the vulture with its keen sight, we just cannot see the path we should take but we look to the God of providence who can always be trusted. This is to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor.5:7). Job in all his troubles and sorrows kept his eye upon the Lord. Despite his grievous losses he was sure that there was a good purpose in it all. “He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:12).
Have you this saving vision? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
