Sheep Listening for Their Shepherd

One of the great analogies of Scripture is that of the shepherd and the sheep.  In this case, God is the Great Shepherd and we are the sheep.  Central to this analogy is understanding that apart from the Shepherd the sheep wander around aimlessly and without any natural defense.  It is as if the sheep were tailor made food for wolves and other lurking predators.

At this point in the analogy it should be asserted that God, being the Good Shepherd, seeks after His lost sheep to return them to His fold.  Also, the sheep who do not respond to the voice of the Shepherd are easy prey for intruders in the flock.  The sheep has no natural defense.  Its primary method of dealing with stress is to go rigid and fall on its side in self-induced paralysis; not a very effective defensive strategy.

This is why it is of such paramount importance that we, the sheep, listen for our Shepherd's voice with attentive ears.  God is our Shepherd and He does seek after us to bring us back to the safety and life in His pastures.  Let us then always listen with open ears for God who continually calls us back to His fold!

Remember:
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want."

Judas Sheep

Sheep are cautiously stupid creatures.  They spend most of their life running away from possible dangers and following others.  In fact, because of their constant skittishness it can be a difficult task to herd them at all, particularly at the slaughterhouse.  However, clever butchers have devised an ingeniously deceptive way to lead the sheep to the deaths without forcing them.

Butchers at the slaughterhouse use a trained goat, dubbed the Judas goat, leads the others to the ramp and gets the herd in motion.  At the apex moment, the Judas goat turns to a gate that closes after it enters, while the herd is forced to continue on to their deaths.

It is interesting that throughout Scripture, believers are referred to as sheep.  This is not an accident.  Believers, by nature, are capable of both jumpy skittishness and thoughtless following.  Unfortunately, these very traits, though purposeful when coupled with wisdom and critical belief, can be the very things that lead some astray.

Consider the many people who would sneak into the flock and, like the Judas sheep, intend on leading the drove to destruction and death.  Every New Testament author warns against such falsity, indicating that wolves dressed as sheep will be present and will try to lead believers astray.  The important thing, for every believer, is to keep their eyes open and critical so that we will not be led astray by counterfeit sheep.

For Judas sheep are everywhere, hoping to trick as many unsuspecting sheep as they can and lead them to their ultimate deaths.  Let us then be aware and active in our vision so as to be protected from such deceit!