His Eye is On the Sparrow
We have a family of sparrows in the corner of the roof of our house. First it was one nest, then they spread to a second corner and started a second nest. I see them most days, darting here and there, looking for food, building the nest, and raising chicks in the spring. They also pick all the insects off our windows. I like them for that.
Spreading from their native Europe and Asia, sparrows are now found in every continent on earth except Antarctic. They are one of the most common birds in the world, and for that reason are often underrated and overlooked.
Strangely, the Holy Spirit started speaking to me about sparrows. I sensed that we are entering a season where this little bird will become an important prophetic mascot or symbol to God’s people.
One day Jesus pointed out some sparrows to his disciples and said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care…so don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10: 29,31 NIV)
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?” he continued, “Yet not one of them is forgotten by God…indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6, 7 NIV)
You are worth more than many sparrows. You are not worthless. You may feel as unimportant as a sparrow, but you are worth much to God. If he takes care of a common, insignificant little bird, won’t he much more take care of us?
I read the following story recently:
“Some early North American Indian tribes had a unique practice of graduating young braves to become full warriors in the tribe. On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, after having learned hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and the tribe. But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.
When he took off the blindfold, he was alone in the middle of thick woods and he was terrified! Every time a twig snapped, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce. After what seemed like an eternity, dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path.
Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing nearby, armed with a bow and arrow. It was his father. He had been there all night long watching over his son.”
And God our Father watches over us.
All through the long night.
Covid may have plunged the world into a long night, but it does not mean that God does not care. If he cares for the sparrows and feeds them, he will care for us and bring us through. In the long night of dark personal or global circumstances, God is fashioning us into warriors not worriers, victors not victims.
In 1904, songwriter Civilla Martin visited a bedridden friend in New York. She asked her friend if she ever got discouraged because of her physical condition. The friend replied, “How can I be discouraged when my Heavenly Father watches over each little sparrow and I know he loves and cares for me?”
On the train journey home, Civilla Martin wrote a song called His Eye is on the Sparrow which has gone on to bless millions of people around the world. Here are some of the words:
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Next time you feel overcome, stressed, unable to cope, or condemned go outside and take a look at the sparrows and remember that if God’s eye is on the sparrow, then he is watching over you.