IN NEED
OF A SHEPHERD?
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us
have turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us
all.” Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
Researchers
studying intelligence in domestic animals agree that the dumbest of all animals
is the turkey. These fowls are probably
the source of the saying of “being too dumb to come in out of the rain” as they
have been known to drown while gazing up with their beaks agape during a
rainstorm. There is wide agreement that
the second dumbest animal is probably the sheep, their IQ level ranks down
there in the single digits. Besides
that, even though sheep have no natural defenses, they seem unable to identify
dangerous situations. They do not have
claws or sharp teeth. They can’t climb
trees to escape their enemies or squirt “mace” like a skunk. They have no mighty roar to frighten away
attackers and no armored plate like the armadillo, who isn’t too far up on the
intelligence scale either, in other words they are helpless but even worse they
do not recognize that they are at risk.
Yet the Bible in at least two- dozen places compares us to sheep. Are we being insulted or is it a “just”
comparison?
Let’s consider the evidence:
stated in the above-cited verse is “We all, like sheep, have gone
astray…” Even though we have greater intelligence than our four legged friends,
our God-given freedom of choice often results in our making wrong choices and
ending up in a “lost condition”.
However, at that point we, unlike sheep, can invite Him back into our
lives and thereby find our way home.
A story is told of a shepherd who came upon two coyotes that
had stealthfully crept right into the middle of the flock. They had killed a lamb and were eating
it. The other sheep just stood around
watching them. They didn’t know the
danger. They’re stupid! Surely we would be wise enough to flee from
danger. However, recent statistics on
the rise in alcohol and/or drug abuse at both ends of the age spectrum question
our wisdom in recognizing danger.
Salvation is available but often its call is ignored, as we, like sheep,
do not recognize the need for it to overcome the dangers of this world and
secure the promise
of safekeeping.
Maybe comparing us to sheep is actually an insult to the
sheep because even though we seem wiser, we often find ourselves in similar
quandaries. We get involved in
situations that are quite easily avoidable if we would choose to be led by the
Good Shepherd and not insisting upon going off in our own directions.