“There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin” (Proverbs 30:18-19).

What do these things have in common?  I believe the answer is that they are unseen, hidden from observation.  (1) An eagle in the air leaves no tracks.  It could fly through an area of space minutes before you arrive on the scene.  However, you probably would not know.  It leaves no tracks in the air.  Unless feathers were left behind, how would you know that an eagle had recently passed that way?

Fun facts:  Can you name the three largest species of eagle in existence today?  These three are generally recognized as the largest: Harpy Eagle, Stellar’s Sea Eagle, and Philippine Eagle.  The Harpy Eagle lives in Central and South America.  It may weigh up to 20 pounds.  Its talons are as large as the claws of a grizzly bear.  It is considered the strongest of all eagles.  The Stellar’s Sea Eagle live on the Pacific coast or eastern Russia.  It has a wingspan of up to 8 feet and may weigh over 20 pounds.  The Philippine Eagle (also known as the monkey-eating eagle) lives in the Philippine islands.  It is considered critically endangered.  It may stand over 3 feet tall.  What is the largest flying bird?  The heaviest flying bird is the Kori Busard.  It lives in Africa.  It can weigh up to 42 pounds.  The bird with the largest wingspan is the Wandering Albatross (or Snowy Albatross).  Its wingspan can reach 12 feet.  What is the smallest bird?  It is the Bee Hummingbird.  It lives in Cuba. It is about 2 inches long and weighs less than a tenth of an ounce.  What is the fastest bird?  The Peregrine Falcon can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour when in a dive (also known as a stoop).  The fastest bird in level flight is the Common Swift.  It can fly at almost 70 miles per hour.  (The Brazilian Free-tailed Bat is even faster. It can fly almost 100 m.p.h.).

(2) A serpent on a rock leaves no tracks, as it would if it were moving across sand.  Unless it left behind skin it had shed (a process known as ecdysis) or scat, how would you know it had passed that way?                 

Fun facts: Can you name the largest species of snake in existence?  Let’s consider: Green Anaconda, Reticulated Python, and the King Cobra.  The heaviest snake is the Green Anaconda.  This snake lives in South America.  It can weigh as much as 550 pounds and reach lengths of 30 feet or more.  The longest snake is either the Green Anaconda or the Reticulated Python.  The Reticulated Python lives in South and Southeast Asia.  It also may reach lengths of over 30 feet.  The largest venomous snake is the King Cobra.  It lives in South and Southeast Asia.  It can reach lengths of up to 18 feet.  What is the smallest snake?  It is the Barbados Thread snake.  It reaches a maximum length of about 4 inches and weighs 2/100th of an ounce.  What is the fastest traveling snake across the ground?  It is the Sidewinder Rattlesnake of the American Southwest.  Some claim it can reach a speed of 18 miles per hour.  The Black Mamba of Africa is also very fast.  It can reach a speed of 12 miles per hour.

(3) A ship in the midst of the sea leaves no lasting indication that it passed by a specific location.  There of course is a wake (trails of disturbed water).  However, this does not last very long (and this was especially true in Biblical times, before motor powered ships).

(4) Then, the writer mentions the way of a man with a virgin (v. 19).  This is followed by the way of an adulterous woman who conceals her sin (v. 20).  The point is: one does not always see what goes on in life.  Sin may occur without detection.

However, let us remember that God sees all.  Consider the following verses: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).  “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).  “God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ” (Romans 2:16).  “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.  Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden” (1 Timothy 5:24-25).  “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).  One’s actions may not be seen by men; but God sees.