God bore Israel to Himself on eagles' wings—a phrase that pictures His miraculous deliverance, not literal flight, since the people walked on foot.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the children of Israel did not sprout wings and fly; they walked on foot, with no helicopters, planes, or air force. Yet with three to seven million people and their livestock moving out of Egypt, the journey was extraordinary. God bore them along supernaturally, so that their exodus was accomplished as if on eagle's wings.
Exodus 19:4 — God Himself uses the phrase 'I bare you on eagles' wings' when speaking to Israel at Sinai, making it the key verse that defines the meaning.
Exodus 13:18 — Records how God led the children of Israel out of Egypt through the wilderness of the Red Sea, going up harnessed on foot.
In Exodus 19:4, God speaks to Moses at Mount Sinai and instructs him to tell the house of Jacob and the children of Israel: "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself." The Bible also records how the journey began in Exodus 13:18: "But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt." These verses show that the eagle's wings expression is tied directly to the deliverance from Egypt and to God's bringing Israel to Himself.
Les Feldick repeatedly asks whether the Jews sprouted wings and flew out of Egypt. His answer is always no—they walked. There were no helicopters, no planes, and no air force to pick them up, yet God told Israel at Sinai, "I bare you on eagles' wings." Les points to the sheer scale of the event: three to seven million people, with their livestock, moved completely out of Egypt and were led down along the Red Sea. He concludes the journey was a supernatural walk—God somehow transported them along, even as He will transport the fleeing remnant of Israel in the Tribulation. Les also uses the "place of first mention" principle, telling listeners to go back to the first occurrence of an expression they can't make sense of. For eagle's wings, the first mention is Exodus 19:4, and it sets the pattern for Revelation 12:14, where the remnant is given the wings of a great eagle.
No. Les Feldick says the Jews did not sprout wings and fly, and no Air Force came to airlift them—no helicopters or planes. They walked on foot. The eagle's wings language in Exodus 19:4 pictures how God bore them, not how they traveled physically.
Les draws a constant analogy between Israel coming out of Egypt and the fleeing remnant in Revelation 12. The woman is given "two wings of a great eagle" to fly into the wilderness—but just as Israel walked, this remnant will go on a supernatural walk, with God transporting them to a place prepared for them, where He nourishes them for three and a half years.
Les teaches that when you see something in Scripture that you can't make sense of, you go back to the place of first mention. For the phrase about eagle's wings, the first mention is Exodus 19:4, where God says He took Israel out on eagles' wings even though they walked. That first mention establishes how every later use of the imagery should be understood—as supernatural deliverance, not literal flight.
In the same verse, God reminds Israel of two things: what He did to the Egyptians and how He bore Israel on eagles' wings. Les quotes the verse, noting God drowned the Egyptians in the sea, while Israel was brought unto Himself—the judgment of Egypt and the deliverance of Israel are bound together in one sentence.
The Harnessed Exodus of Millions
Les sets the scene of three to seven million Israelites with livestock moving out of Egypt and being led to the Red Sea, showing why their swift movement was extraordinary.
Place of First Mention: Eagle's Wings
Les teaches that whenever Scripture puzzles you, go to the place of first mention; in Exodus 19:4 God says He took Israel out on eagle's wings, even though they walked.
Walking, Not Flying
Les poses the question of whether the Jews sprouted wings and flew, concluding they did not—they walked.
No Air Force for Israel
Les rules out an airlift for Israel and reminds listeners Israel did not sprout wings; the question remains how they left—on foot.
How Did They Leave Egypt? On Foot
Les emphasizes Israel left on foot without helicopters or planes, yet came out as if they had the wings of a great eagle.
A Supernatural Walk
Les describes the flight as a supernatural walk on foot—God will transport the remnant along, even as He did with Israel under Moses.
God's Care Like the Wilderness
Les parallels the eagle's wings of the escaping remnant with God's wilderness care for Israel—manna and water from the rock.
The Constant Exodus–Tribulation Analogy
Les draws the constant analogy between Israel coming out of Egypt and the fleeing remnant, again reminding that the Jews did not sprout wings—they went on foot.
Exodus 19:4: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
God's own words through Moses to Israel at Sinai, connecting the eagle's wings image with the exodus deliverance.
Exodus 13:18: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
Records Israel's route out of Egypt and their orderly departure on foot.
Revelation 12:14: And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
The Tribulation parallel Les draws, where the fleeing remnant of Israel is given the same eagle's wing imagery.
No. Les Feldick emphasizes that they walked on foot—there were no helicopters, planes, or an air force. The eagle's wings language pictures how God supernaturally bore them and sped their journey.
Exodus 19:4. God tells Israel, "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself."
Les applies the same analogy to Revelation 12:14, where the fleeing Jewish remnant is given two wings of a great eagle. They, too, will go on foot—a supernatural walk—transported by God to a prepared place for three and a half years.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire