He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may take refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and wall. Psalm 91:4 (NASB)
“Mother May I” is a game for the ages. A group of players selects someone to be the Mother who faces away from the group. Her goal is to bring the players toward the finish line as equally as possible, hampering anyone in the lead. The goal of the players is to be the first one to reach the finish line and replace Mother. The players politely request they take various steps to move them closer to the end. Mother controls when and how they move. It takes quite a bit of maneuvering with some luck to reach the end and become Mother.
God stands in sharp contrast to the image of Mother in this game. He watches over us (Psalm 33:113-14). He invites us to call to Him for answers (Jeremiah 33:3). He instructs us to follow Him (Matthew 4:19). He directs us to remain in Him (John 15:4). He longs for us to be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). And He promises He will provide refuge under His sheltering wings (Psalm 91:4).
God loved us so much that He sacrificed His own life to free us from the bondage of wickedness. He died to set us free, yet He doesn’t force His will upon us. He allows us to choose whom we follow and serve. Even if we choose to go our own way, He waits with open arms for us to return to Him.
Who knew that 2020 would usher in a plethora of struggles? Covid and death, fear and detachment, division and strife, distress and despair, suffering and sorrow, political rivalry, virtual reality—have I left anything out? During these many conflicts, I wonder where people sought help. Where did you go for help? Who or what do you trust to protect you?
Months ago while quarantining, I began to search for help. I opened my Bible to Psalm 91. An intensifying calm settled in my soul as I read each verse. I decided to read it again, but the fourth verse interrupted the flow. I needed to unravel the meaning. What I discovered has imprinted my mind with beautiful imagery—God is like a mother hen.
Yes, God is like a mother hen where we can find shelter. Listen with your heart as you read these words: He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may take refuge.
The flight of birds, especially eagles, renders vigor. Their wings mirror strength. Scripture informs us that hope in the Lord renews our strength, like soaring on wings of eagles (Isaiah 40:31). The image of such a flight illustrates the power God supplies His people.
But oh the surprising and yet comforting picture of a mother hen. The hen moves about in a big backyard near the chicken coop. Her little chicks are scattered and roaming all over. Suddenly a shadow flies over, resembling that of a hawk. The mother hen sees the danger, but doesn’t chase after her chicks. She simply expands her wings and clucks her warning sound. It’s the choice of the chicks to run to her for shelter. Once she is surrounded by chicks, she pulls her wings in close, tucking them close to her. If the hawk plans on getting the chicks, he must go through her first. What a beautiful illustration of Jesus’ love for us all.
The depiction of the sheltering winged feathers of a mother hen exemplifies God’s protection and intimacy over us. He offers His help while allowing us the freedom to choose. He will cover us with His feathers where we may take refuge if we run to Him with faith, confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts.
When Jesus walked the earth, He tried to warn the religious leaders about all the evil they were involved in. He reminded them how prophets had been sent to them with God’s truth. He loved even them and yearned to save them. But they chose not to take heed. His heart grieved as He spoke these words to them:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” Matthew 23:37 (NLT)
Father God loves us like a mother hen. He will shelter us under His strong arms, if we run to Him. We can find refuge under His wings, but it’s our choice. If we choose His protection, we can rest assured that any danger lurking nearby must contend with Him first. Secured under His wings, we gain trust in Him because He is faithful to His promises.