The ability of billions of birds to migrate to and from various parts of the world each spring and fall is truly amazing. If humans were to attempt these trips, they would need many kinds of instruments, charts and computers. But God has given these flying marvels the wisdom to stay on their courses perfectly.

Scientists are very interested in the abilities of these birds and would like to learn their secret. But the secret has not been discovered by man; it is the Creator's gift to the bird kingdom. This same instinct is shared in different ways by some fish, whales, a small number of animals, a few butterflies and other creatures. But the birds (billions of them) are the outstanding performers. Some, such as storks, humming birds, plovers, terns, etc., fly accurately thousands of miles over land and ocean.

Scientists think that birds are guided by the sun, and they may be right. But the sun travels from east to west, and for the most part birds travel north and south. If guided by the sun, they would need some kind of inner clock to tell them where the sun was in the sky at any time of day. Others think the night fliers (and most do migrate at night) use the stars for direction. But the stars also change their positions as the earth revolves. So if they are guided by the stars, they have certainly been given something better than man's best computer to find directions this way. Still other scientists think they follow land marks such as mountains, rivers and valleys. This might help those migrating over land, but what landmarks are there out in the ocean?

None of these provide a real answer since the migrators find their way just as well in total darkness, through foggy or cloudy skies, and often through fierce storms. When all is said, we must just happily conclude that the Lord God who created and takes care of them is the source. He supplies this superb guidance and the amazing amount of strength and endurance that carries them over these great distances.

It is a wonderful thing to know the Lord as your Saviour and learn that He will provide daily strength for you, too. As the Bible tells us:

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31.

Copied with permission from Messages of God's Love. More articles in The Wonders of God's Creation (Volume 1-4) by Sidney R. Gill, also published by Bible Truth Publishers.