Under His Wings

While working for the Iowa Conservation Commission, I had the privilege to participate in the return of the giant Canada goose in the wild.  This largest species of the Canada goose family was thought to be extinct but a biologist found some in a small wild flock of geese in southern Minnesota.  We also discovered that early Iowa pioneer families captured wild geese and handed them down for generations and most of those were the giant geese which the State of Iowa purchased from many farmers .  I was in charge of a work crew that high fenced fifteen acres around a bay and placed twenty four pairs of the geese so they could safely nest without predators bothering the nests.  We also established a refuge for Canada geese that was ten miles wide and about thirty miles long.  They multiplied into the hundreds then thousands and now millions.  It was a huge success story in conservation.

Mama and Papa geese are a force to respect when it comes to guarding their goslings.  The goslings will hide under Mama's wings while Papa is on the constant lookout and ready to defend his family.  We had to handle the geese to band them for tracking and mortality so found out they can beat you fiercely with their wings and will bite any exposed flesh with a vengeance.  I have seen ears, lips, and hands bloodied quickly and with precision from their bills.

Psalm 91 states that we have a Heavenly Father that will cover us with his wings where we can find refuge.  The psalm tells us we are not to be afraid of the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor the of the destruction that wastes at noonday.  A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  God says He will give angels charge over us to keep us in all of our ways.  This great scripture has many promises of His love and protection.

The 91st Brigade recited this Psalm daily during WW1 and even though they were in many battles, came through the war with no casualties.  Some Marines have used it in Afghanistan with similar results.  I have a friend who has a son that is a Navy Seal that was embedded in Mosul, Iraq with Iraqi troops  for several months.  We prayed Psalm 91 over him and the Seal Team nearly daily claiming God's promises for them.  They finally returned home recently with no injuries yet were in many dangerous battles against ISIS. His son said numerous bullets whizzed by them, bombs exploding with shrapnel flying and often Iraqi troops being killed next to them ; yet they were never harmed.

What do you think; was this just a coincidence or God's favor.  They were under the wings of the Almighty God who is a loving Father.