Looking for Feathers

Devotional by Dr. Barri Cae Seif.

Since we now own two kitties, I am on the hunt for feathers. When I just had the one kitty, Yofi, as entertainment for me and exercise for her, I played ‘Bird’ with her, Bird being a few feathers attached by string to a pole. Bird flutters and spins through the air, and Yofi (Yo-fee) jumps, does backflips etc. In repairing Bird, Wal-Mart feathers don’t cut it with kitties, they love the real thing. So when I find feathers on the ground, I see a gift from God.

The Hebrew word for feathers (or wings) is kanaf – kah-nahf and the word can mean

Corners:
Deuteronomy 22:12
You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners (kah-n’fote) of your garment which you cover yourself (also called a tallit)

Skirt or covering
Ruth 3:9
And he (Boaz) said, “Who are you?” and she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering (k’nahf)
over your maid, for you are a close relative.“

Wings (used 74+ times)
Ps 17:8
Keep me as the apple of the eye,
Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings (k’nahf).

Ps. 57:1
Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
For my soul takes refuge in Thee;
And in the shadow of Thy wings (k’nahf)
I will take refuge until destruction passes by.

Ps 61:4
Let me dwell in Thy tent forever,
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Thy wings (k’nahf).

Ps 63:7
For Thou has been my help,
And in the shadow of Thy wings (k’nahf) I sing for joy.

Ps 91:4
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings (k’nahf) you may seek refuge.

Ps 104:3
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariots
He walks upon the wings (k’nahf) of the wind.

Malachi 4:2
But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness
will rise with healing in its wings (k’nahf);
and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.
Can you count the number of times that you have walked down the street, or in the park, and you have seen feathers? Have you ever stopped to think that that feather is a reminder of God’s presence surrounding you?
His care is over you, His hand of protection surrounds you, His wings shield you.
And how special a God that we have that even today, He still sends us those special ways of reminding us that He truly is near.

Ps 36:7
How precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God!
and the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings (k’nahf).