Bird Migration

Bird migration is fascinating. Feather and fowl know what time of year to begin their journey. Whether migrating north or south, even though they fly hundreds or thousands of miles, they don’t get lost or sidetracked. (Can you imagine trying to drive from here to New York WITHOUT a map or compass? Oh yeah, and WITHOUT any major highways or signs?)

I get a kick out of watching the documentaries that follow these yearly feathered travels. At some point the narrator says that birds are able to navigate so well because of their “evolutionary development”. Those two words are the narrator’s way of saying, “We have no idea HOW birds can migrate such long distances without getting lost. We think they navigate by using the stars or magnetic fields of the earth, but we really don’t know.”

I wish I could ask the narrator, “So, how many generations of birds did get lost or died because they didn’t migrate at all, before evolution finally got it right? And did that bird that evolved sit among his peers and convince them to follow his flight plan?” Of course not!

Those of us who believe the Bible realize that migration is more clear evidence that God is the brilliant Creator of these creatures. He has built into them “seasonal alarm clocks” to start their migration and “GPS” to navigate the distance. In fact, God uses the migration of birds as an indictment against the people of Israel. “Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year. But not my people! They do not know the Lord’s laws.” (Jeremiah 8:7)

The animal world operates by INSTINCT. Humans, on the other hand, operate by WILLFUL CHOICE. It’s this free will that is the reason people make unwise and sinful choices when dealing with God. People would make a lot fewer mistakes and sinful choices if we functioned by INSTINCT, but God set mankind apart from the animal kingdom when He made us in His image and gave us free will. God wants people to CHOOSE to love Him. He could have made automatons to do His bidding, but that wouldn’t be obedience based upon LOVE.

Birds also can teach us about trust in God’s care and provision. Jesus said, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are?” (Matthew 6:26) Jesus wants us to know God as a trustworthy and caring Father.

Migrations of other animals are just as fascinating. That of penguins or Caribou or butterflies or salmon are all amazing examples of God’s wisdom and goodness. God has given them these instincts for their GOOD, so they will survive. Why does God want people to turn to Him instead of choosing to ignore Him? It’s for our GOOD, too.

Through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has made a way for people to migrate to Him. Instead of flying or walking hundreds of miles, this migration is instantaneous. We leave our old life and start a new life the moment we make the WILLFUL CHOICE to repent of our sin and ask Christ to sit on the throne of our life. If you haven’t yet done that, I encourage you to do it soon.

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