My grandmother, Dunia Ivanovna, was a very hard working, and a very practical person. In the old country, at the turn of the century life was very hard. Just providing the basics of life, such as keeping a roof over one's head and food on the table was a struggle.
Since grand parents lived near a river, it was a very practical to keep ducks. The ducks would be able to obtain a good part of their feed from the river, and there were many benefits that were obtained from them. Things like eggs and meat are obvious, but also duck feathers for pillows and comforters ( winters were very cold) and last but not least duck grease which was a very valuable item in many ways. Also there was money to be made by selling some or all of the products from the ducks .
Well, any way, one year a duck had her ducklings and they were growing along nicely. One day, mother duck took the brood out to the river for a feeding session and they never returned. This was felt as a tremendous loss and it was obvious to all, that she didn't get lost, but, that some one down the river, caught her because she was made vulnerable in trying to protect her ducklings and made short work of her and the ducklings; so all was lost. As I said, Grandmother was a very practical person, and she was determined that this would never happen to her again.
The next time, the duck eggs that were gathered were placed under a chicken. Now, grandmother was not a psychologist, nor did she ever attend college, as a matter of fact, her shadow had never darken the door of a school. What she did, to those ducklings, is what is know today as imprinting. Which is what happens to birds when they hatch from an egg. The hatchlings recognize the individual hatching them as their parent.
Now, the mother hen would scratch around in the yard and feed the ducklings. However, when she would take them close to the river, well, you know what happened. The ducklings took to water like ducks and started to swim around and feed on the seeds and insects. Now, the mother hen couldn't swim, fearing for their safety, she would stand at the edge of the river and cluck her head off, calling back the chicks I mean the ducklings. This way, as the ducklings grew up, they were always close to the property.
When the hen hatched the ducklings, the hen was imprinted on the ducklings and ducklings were imprinted of the hen. There was this bonding that resulted from this process and the offspring benefit the most from this bonding in safety and protection, the way God designed it. This bonding is so strong that she is willing to be spent for her offspring. That is exactly what happened to the mother duck, she made the ultimate sacrifice, she perished trying to save her offspring. Many a bird has perished trying to protect their offspring. Since God designed this bonding, that results from imprinting, and gave an ordinance to Moses to give to the people, such that it was forbidden to take a grouse with the eggs or young. Deuteronomy 22: 6 If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: 7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
We know, that through the whole old testament, that the nation of Israel lacked the bonding that was needed to keep them close to God. God, time and time again reminds them to be aware of his blessings and his protection. Deuteronomy 6: 12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
This warning was given, because the nation experienced God's blessings. Deuteronomy 6:11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
The nation of Israel lacked nothing, in wealth or health, and this is where, we as a nation find ourselves, and the same warning should apply to us. Truly a day of Independence, depending on no one.
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
But, like most people, it was true for the Jewish nation, out of sight out of mind. From the very beginning of Israel's history, God was trying to establish this bonding and maintain it. God knew, that without this bonding the nation would perish, and he gives them this command.
Deuteronomy 11:18-20. 18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
David was certainly aware of this problem of bonding and he tried to maintain it as he states it Psalms 1:2 Ps 1: 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Later in Judas's history we find that there was a lack of bonding and God
tries to reestablish this bond, by reminding the Jewish nation not to forget
him, and shortly before allowing the destruction of the nation, he speaks
through Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Isaiah 1: 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib:
but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Jeremiah 2: 32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?
yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
Jeremiah 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times;
and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their
coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
This imprinting should be done every day, as David puts it in Ps. 63:1 " O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee... ". Ps 5:3 " My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord: in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." By spending time with God in the morning, this imprinting will be accomplished. This way, we will be reminded, as to who is our heavenly parent, God the Father. This will strengthen our bond to God, and less likely that we would stray from him that day.
How strong is this bonding that is produced by imprinting between the parent and the offspring? Romans 8: 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There was nothing in common, that the mother hen had with the ducklings, yet because of the bonding she was willing to sacrifice herself for them. Just as Christ was willing to be spent or sacrificed for the people, Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for the people, Christ was crucified because there was no bonding that existed between God and the people, and we find Christ saying this to his people. Mat 23: 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Has this bonding taken place in your life, is this bonding taking place in your life, or are you a stranger to God and his word? Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Can we express the same desire as the Psalmist, because of our bonding.
Ps 1: 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth
he meditate day and night.
Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of
thy wings,
Ps 91: 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings
shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Imprint, then impart. Yes, imprint on God's word by spending time with God and in his word. Then we will be ready to impart, God's Love and his plan of salvation, because it will be clear to us, who's child we are, and we will desire the same for others, to be a child of God.
Pete P. Repich