"On eagles' wings"

I had always assumed we already had a national bird. Apparently, I was wrong:

President Biden last week signed a unanimously approved bill that officially names the bald eagle America’s national bird. Few have paused to reflect on the deeper meaning of this iconic creature.

When the Founding Fathers considered designs for a national emblem after the Declaration of Independence, they considered depictions of Moses parting the Red Sea and the children of Israel in the desert. In 1782 they chose a bald eagle, clutching in its talons an olive branch and arrows—biblical symbols of peace and war.

In the media coverage surrounding the eagle last week, our national bird’s religious significance was overlooked. The Bible mentions the eagle at least 30 times, including in Exodus, Deuteronomy, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Hosea, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Samuel and Revelations. Isaiah 40:31 declares: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” Exodus 19:4 describes God carrying the Israelites “on eagles’ wings.” .... (more)

Eli Federman, "The Bald Eagle Is Heaven-Sent," The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 31, 2024.