The Marine Corps Emblem
The first thing we want to look at and reflect upon is the Marine Corps Emblem and the Biblical significance of the symbols on it.
The Marine Corp Emblem consists of an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. It is referred to as EGA.
The Eagle
The eagle is the first part of the emblem. It is interestingly and biblically significant that in the eagles beak is a banner with the words “Semper Fidelis”. This is the Marine Corps motto. More about that later.
“Eagle” appears 25 times in the Bible and there are significant things about an eagle that apply to the Marine Corps.
Bald eagle is in the Bible:
Micah 1:16 “Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.”
In the Bible, the eagle is an unclean bird – Meaning it was not to be eaten. The purpose of eagles is not as food. Eagles were to be observed for their qualities that could be incorporated into a person or nation’s character.
They are listed in Leviticus and Deuteronomy as an unclean bird:
Leviticus 11:13 “And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,”
Deuteronomy 14:12 “But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,”
A nation is described as an eagle. The Bald Eagle is the symbol of the United States. It stands for freedom that is worth fighting for!
Deuteronomy 28:49 “The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;”
The eagle is described as a swift flier: “…as swift as the eagle fieth;” The Marine Corps incorporated the concept of being able to go anywhere quickly and fight on a moment’s notice. A successful fighting force must be prepared to fight anywhere and anytime.
It is interesting to notice in this verse the phrase “…whose tongue thou shalt not understand:” The marines have a unique vocabulary: Oohrah! Semper Fi! Boot! Skating! Fire Watch! Maggot!
An eagle has a unique way to train her young:
Deuteronomy 32:11,12 “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.”
The eaglet is hatched and stays in the nest for about 12 weeks. During this time, it gains strength in its wings and eventually leaves the nest when it learns to fly.
Marines go through boot camp where they gain knowledge, strength, and discipline so that they can function alone and in a team. Marine Corps boot camp is like no other training. It is where Marines are born and learn to fly!
Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
The advantage of an eagle over its prey is typified in the Marine Corps Air Wing. The reason the Marines have their own air force is to support the fighting man on the ground. Because the other force’s pilots were not able to fly close enough because of the danger, the Marines trained their own pilots and secured their own planes.
Jeremiah 48:40 “For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.”
Jeremiah 49:22 “Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.”
As an eagle that powers itself by its wings to great height so that it can swoop down on the prey, the Marines use their strength to overpower the enemy.
Much Marine training is running and marching!
Isaiah 40:31 “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.”
The Globe
There are 287 references to “the world” in the Bible. In the New testament there are 159. It is important to know that God is interested in the world. He made it and keeps it going!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
The mission of the Marine Corps is to be prepared to have “boots on the ground” quickly in any place on the earth. It is organized into expeditionary forces ready to be deployed quickly to any place needed.
For the Christian, the field is the world! Christians need to be prepared to reach the world with the gospel!
Matthew 13:38 “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;”
The Anchor
The word “Anchor” only occurs only once in the Bible.
For the marine, the anchor represents the marine’s attachment to the Navy. Originally marines were stationed on the ships to serve as riflemen to protect the ship from boarding and attack. The marine’s training was in hand to hand combat! More on this later. The anchor on the emblem is called a “fouled anchor”. What this means is that it is not attached to anything. Its chain or rope is loose. This allows the marine to make any place home while the anchor is attached.
For the Christian, the anchor is a symbol of security of being attached to Jesus. For the Christian, our anchor grips the Rock. That Rock is Jesus. While the Christian may have a temporary attachment to any place on this globe, his permanent attachment is in heaven.
Hebrews 6:18, 19 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”
Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Romans 9:33 “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
1 Corinthians 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
