When I was younger, I used to participate in 4-H as a child, then moved on to FFA as a teen. For those of you who do not know what that it, it is basically a group of country kids getting to do neat things like judge how powerful one horse’s gaskin is compared to another’s, learn how to debate, take soil samples, and in my case, show sheep. I was a modern day shepherd. Or like my dad liked to call it, a sheep herder, or a pasture maggot chaser. I preferred showman. One day, a Deacon in my congregation came up to me and said he was working on a devotional about the relationship between a sheep, and a shepherd, and would like some insight on the behavior of sheep, and what I did to take care of them. I think I was around twelve at the time, and as-a-matter-of-factly stated, “Well….Sheep are really stupid. Like, really stupid. You have to lead them right up to where the water is and pretty much dunk their heads in it before they realize what it is. They are extremely stubborn with halter-breaking, and well, they stink too.” He just laughed, and asked me if there was anything else I would like to add that would help him with the lesson. I stood there for a second, then said, “Once they get over their stupidity with figuring out where their food and water go, and allow themselves to be halter broken, they are very loyal, and very dependent on me.” He smiled, thanked me for my time, then walked away.

I often refer back to that conversation I had with Mike when I was a pre-teen each time I hear of God’s people being compared to sheep. When I was young, I was a bit offended honestly, because I thought sheep were seriously stupid! The more I got into caring for, and showing sheep however, and the more I began to study them as the animals they are, it occurred to me that it makes perfect sense why God chose to use the sheep as His description as a people called to be His.

Sheep Have a Strong Flocking Behavior – Sheep will band together in a large flock for protection. In open pastures, this is the only defense sheep have from predators. If they remain as one, they are less likely to be attacked. I remember watching my sheep huddle together in their pen when the coyotes would start their howling for the night. Instantly, the sheep would get together in the corner of their barn, securing the younger ones in the middle of their flock. How true is this flocking pattern for us as members of the body? We have heard the quote from Abraham Lincoln that says, “A house divided against itself will fall.” This is true of a heard of sheep. If given the opportunity, a predator will try to separate the flock, and devours the weakest members of the flock because of this separation. “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

Sheep Loyally Follow the Leader – When the leader of the sheep moves, the rest will follow, even if its a bad idea. They have only one thing on their mind, and that is to follow the leader. Once the leader is determined, they remained focused on that leader. I had a sheep that was so focused on me as his leader, I could open his pen at a show, turn my back, and walk to where I needed to go with him following close behind even amidst all the cows, horses, pigs, and sheep.  Through all the sights, sounds, exits, and chaos, he always chose to stay right behind me. I didn’t have to force him. I didn’t need a halter. I didn’t even need to look back to check to see if he was still with me, he was always there. He recognized me as his leader, and with craziness swirling around us, he always trusted that I was leading him right where he needed to go. Sheep devote all of their senses to track, and depend on their leader. This is the type of loyalty God wants in His sheep as well. He wants sheep that will stay close to His side even when trials, temptations, fears and self-sufficient thinking kicks in. He wants a people that uses each of their God given senses to actively pursue the One who continually pursues us. “Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” Psalms 25:4-5

Sheep are Social – In grazing situations, a sheep always wants/needs to have a visual on the other sheep. If it looses contact with other sheep, it becomes highly agitated, and will even starve to death with worry because it is separated from its flock. I remember when I first started out in the sheep business, when my mom and dad bought me my first sheep. My Ag teacher said that I would need to pay extra attention to it, because if it got lonely, it would get sick. I thought this was a sneaky way of getting me to work with it every day. Months later, after the newness and cuteness of having a sheep wore off, I tested that theory out of laziness from working so hard with the sheep. For about a week, I only interacted with her when it was time to feed and water. She got sick. My Ag teacher had to come out and give her a steroid shot. Here I am….at least 23 years later confessing to you all that my poor sweet Annabelle got sick, because I was too lazy to get in the pen, put on her halter, and give her the social interaction she needed to thrive! I do however, remember feeling very guilty about this, and worked with her every day after that AND got another sheep to be her friend.  The personality of a sheep contains extreme meekness, which is a big part of why they are dependent on a leader, and their heard.

We, as God’s sheep, were never meant to be alone. He created us to love Him, to be loved by Him, and to love others. He reminds us through His word how important it is to be a social people. He reminds us to be involved lovingly in each other’s lives, and to do so all in glory to Him as God the Father. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:15-17

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father….. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:14-18, 27-28

I am a sheep and the Lord is my shepherd.  Amen.

Ashley Hudson @ http://start2finish.org and http://start2finish.org/stupid-sheep/