In many cases, the expectations are not realistic. Sometimes we expect things to be much better than they could possibly be. On the other hand, sometimes our expectations are far too low.
We can use this avian imagery to help us talk about how God pictures His salvation for Israel at Mount Sinai and then, by extension, to see the greater salvation God has given us in Jesus at Mount Calvary.
In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the sending of the disciples to preach. Christ sends laborers into the harvest, which is what preaching is all about. God plants the seed, and the preacher harvests it.