Have you ever noticed how often birds are mentioned in the Bible? As I work at home during this Coronavirus quarantine, I have become much more aware of the birds in my backyard. I suppose this has sensitized me to a number of passages where God uses birds as helpers, metaphors, and examples.

In Genesis 1:20-21, God seems to absolutely delight in making all kinds of birds. Just yesterday, I noticed a new bird -- a rose-breasted grosbeak -- in our yard. Who but God could have thought up the myriad of combinations of colors, sizes, and shapes? Since it's springtime, the birds are definitely obeying the command to be "fruitful and multiply!"

God uses birds to help Noah determine if the waters of the flood have receded. Ravens feed the prophet Elijah. The Holy Spirit is represented by a dove.

And what about those lowly sparrows? Often we consider them a nuisance, especially when they build nests in our gutters and eaves. But, in Psalm 83:4, they find a home near God's altar. As they say in the real estate business: location, location, location. God even knows, according to Matthew 10:29, when a little bird falls to the ground. So I guess they rank a little higher in God's eyes than in ours. 

In Matthew 6:26-34, Jesus praises the birds who neither "sow or reap or gather." A bit of a contrast to how we may hoard or worry if we're going to find toilet paper. However, every morning I watch the birds scratch and peck away for a bug or worm. During the fall, the chickadees and blue jays seem to cache or hide extra seeds in preparation for the upcoming lean winter months.

This reminds me that I cannot passively wait for something to drop out of the sky. Rather, I am called to actively seek -- to co-operate with God -- while trusting in God's providence to supply whatever I need. 

What other references to birds can you find from Scripture? Why do you think God uses birds to symbolize or illustrate aspects or characteristics of God?