Sheep Need a Shepherd
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will
gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young.
Isaiah 40:11
I am currently reading
a fun book by James Herriot, a veterinary surgeon in Great Britain. In one
chapter of his book, All Creatures Great
and Small, he tells the story of a ewe who lost her young and a lamb who’d
lost his mother. By tying the fleece of the dead lamb onto the live lamb, the
ewe accepted this young one as her own. She turned into a devoted mother,
feeding him and protecting him with her life.
When James Herriot
returned to that farm a month later, he inquired about the little orphan lamb
and his adoptive mother. Farmer Rob pointed towards a ewe and lamb. “Look!
There’s that awd ewe with Herbert (the orphan lamb). Over there on t’right – in
the middle of that bunch.” They all looked the same to me (writes Herriot), but
to Rob, like all shepherds, they were as different as people and he picked out
these two effortlessly.[1]
We, too, are all
orphaned lambs who need a shepherd. Psalm 95:7 says “For He is our God, and we
are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” God is our shepherd
and He knows each one of us individually. When he looks down from the heavens,
we are not just a mass of people, but individuals whom God loves and cares for.
Luke 12:7 says God
knows everything about you, even how many hairs you have on your head. When we
think of how many billions of people inhabit this planet, it’s mind-boggling to
realize that He knows me, He knows you and He knows everything about us. And He
cares about us.
Not only does God know
us and care for us, but God also takes extra-special care of the lambs and the
nursing mothers. Isaiah 40:11 says that He gathers the lambs in His arms and
carries them close to His bosom. In ancient days, shepherds tucked weak, little
ones into their cloak so they were protected and warm, up against the shepherd’s
heart.
To those of us who have little children, or
children with special needs, this verse is especially comforting. For the
shepherd is holding our little ones, our weak and needy ones, close to His
heart. You can’t get any closer than that!
Note that the shepherd does not avoid the valleys
(Psalm 23). But He does promise that when we go through those difficult times,
He will lead us with a gentle touch and carry our precious little ones up close
to His heart.
Feeling disheartened? Don’t be. Your shepherd is
right beside you, guiding you, leading you and watching over you. He’s holding
your child, keeping them safe and warm, while he leads you through this rough
patch. Don’t falter, there are green pastures ahead and refreshing, still
waters to quench your thirsty soul. Stay close to your shepherd. He won’t lead
you astray.
If you don’t know this shepherd, won’t you pray
with me? God, I know you exist. The Bible says you know me and everything about
me. It also says that you love me. I’ve been going my own way for so long, but
I can’t continue on my own. Please take over. I need your help and your
guidance. I surrender my life to you, asking you to be my shepherd from this
day forward. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author:
I am the daughter of TEAM missionaries (The
Evangelical Alliance Mission). I was raised in France, attended French schools,
obtained my French Baccalaureate then attended Emmaus Bible College in
Switzerland where I graduated with a degree in Bible and Theology.
I now live in the Missouri Ozarks with my husband Len
and my three sons, one of whom has been diagnosed with Asperger’s.
I am a member of the Ozarks’ Chapter of American
Christian Writers and a founding member of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild.
Comments