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ANIMALS OF THE BIBLE
1. The Sheep – Following Meekly “But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock” Psalm 78:52 |
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| In this series we take a look at some of the animals of the Bible. We want to learn the lessons they can teach us about living the Christian life. There is nothing more important for those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ than that they glorify God in their lives. And in glorifying God they can and do enjoy him. Our first animal is a very familiar one - at least it is to those who live in the highlands and islands of Scotland. It features in the Bible too. It is found in Genesis and in Revelation and in many of the books in between. God often compares his people to this animal. It is the sheep. Although also found in the wild sheep have long been domesticated for their meat and wool. The Romans introduced sheep-farming into Britain and bred different varieties. Nearly 300 breeds are now found throughout the world, suited to various climates. Australia, New Zealand and China are major sheep-raising countries. Cheese made from sheep’s milk is a popular food in some places. True Christians are the sheep of Christ who is himself the Good Shepherd. You may have seen a shepherd in the hills and heard him calling to his sheep. In the gospel Christ calls sinners to come to him and by the grace of his Holy Spirit he enables his people to come to him in repentance and faith. You can see Jesus doing this in the Bible. To Matthew sitting in his customs-house he said, “follow me” (Matt.9:9). To Zaccheus perched in the sycamore tree he said, “make haste, and come down” (Luke 19:5). To Philip in Galilee he said, “follow me” (John 1:43). These all trusted in Christ for salvation and began to walk with him as his disciples. How should we follow Christ? We should follow Christ meekly. Sheep are meek creatures. They are not proud or stubborn but are easily led. Our pride has to go when we become Christians. We must admit that we do not know best and that we have been living our lives in the wrong way. Jesus said to those he called, “take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt.11:29). There was a gentleness about Jesus: he was always submissive to his Father’s will and we should be the same. We should follow Christ obediently. Sadly sheep are prone to wander away from their familiar pastures and range far and wide across the hillside. Before they are aware of it they are in danger on a crag with a steep drop below. Likewise Christians who disobey the Word of God are putting themselves “out of the way” (Heb.5:2); if they do not turn back they are likely to fall deeply into sin and wound themselves and the cause of Christ. Good shepherds take care of their sheep. They watch over them constantly and train dogs to round them up. The Lord uses several means to look after his people. He says to us, “if ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) but if we stray then he has his ‘sheepdogs’ to turn us back into the straight and narrow way. The sheepdogs are the sermons which warn us, our conscience which troubles us and the providences which humble us. We should follow the Lord fully. When sheep hear a shepherd’s voice if they are his sheep they will heed his commands. Caleb followed God when others rebelled and refused to fight for the promised land (Num.14:22-24). Indeed of the hundreds of thousands of Israelites who left Egypt and began the journey to Canaan, only two men actually arrived - Caleb and Joshua! We must be like them as we follow Jesus our great shepherd to heaven. “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart” (Psa.95:7,8). There is a final lesson we should learn from the sheep. We should follow the Lord together. As sheep are found in flocks so Christians are Christ’s flock and they belong together in the fellowship of his church. If we are truly wise we will learn from the godly men and women of the past and present and so walk in “the footsteps of the flock” (Song 1:8). In the Bible another animal is sometimes mentioned with the sheep. It is the goat. Perhaps you have seen it in a field or on a farm. The goat is stubborn and self-willed and is not easily led. Although these two animals are related and may be found together they do not really belong together. Although they may look similar their characters are quite different. Jesus spoke often of the day of judgment. On that day he will come from heaven and sit upon a glorious throne. “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt.25:32,33) The sheep are believers who are blessed and go to heaven. The goats are unbelievers who are cursed and go to hell to be punished for their sins. Make sure that you are one of Christ’s sheep! |
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