Sheep are interesting creatures. They are seen in the Scriptures from Genesis to
Revelations. Abel, the son of Adam and Eve, was listed as the first keeper of sheep. We
see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were all shepherds. In fact, the Israelites received the best
land of Goshen because they were shepherds and Egyptians didn’t want anything to do
with keeping sheep. Moses was tending sheep when he had his life changing experience of
the burning bush. David was a shepherd. The major and minor prophets all talked about
sheep and compared Israelites to sheep. And Jesus compared Himself to a good shepherd
in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” So
we, as the Church, are called the sheep.
Many years ago, the Lord showed me a flock of sheep that were scrawny, scraggly and
scarred. Their wool was hanging in clumps and full of stickers and grass. They were dirty
and held their heads low. “When you see a flock like this, do you blame the sheep or the
shepherd?” the Lord asked me. Well, you blame the shepherd because he isn’t taking care
of the sheep.
Again, He showed me a flock of fat, fluffy sheep. They were frolicking around. Their wool
was white and pure. Again the Lord asked, “When you see a flock like this, do you blame
the sheep or the shepherd?” Of course, you give the shepherd the credit for caring for the
sheep.
So if Jesus is our Good Shepherd, then by all accounts we should be fat, fluffy, happy
sheep. But how often is this not truly the case? The problem is not always the shepherd,
but the sheep. The one job the sheep has is to obey the shepherd. However, if the sheep
chooses to go its own way, to stray from the shepherd, to eat the bad weeds instead of the
good grass, or drink from the stagnant waters instead of the fresh clear waters, is it the
shepherd’s fault or the sheep’s. The sheep’s fault. The shepherd is fulfilling his
responsibility in providing all things for the good of the sheep, but the sheep’s responsibility
is to obey and follow the shepherd.
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for
they know his voice. John 10:4
I was listening to a testimony of an elderly woman who had left a very legalistic church. Her
sister had tried to get her to come back to the fold. The sister said that just as the sheep
needed the strong fence around them to keep them from straying and keep them protected
the church needed the laws and regulations to keep them pure. The motherly woman had
a wonderful reply. She said the sheep hear the true shepherd’s voice and they follow him
and he protects them and shows them the way to go. There is no need for the fence
because of the shepherd. Again, the sheep’s one responsibility is to obey the shepherd.
We have a Good Shepherd named Jesus. He always protects us and keeps us. He provides
all we need to be fat, fluffy, happy sheep. Our responsibility is to be good sheep by obeying
our Shepherd and following Him.
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:14