This photo was taken in Victoria...by Siew Wai ....more photos on www.siewwai.zenfolio.com
Why does God refer us as sheep? Because sheep have good economical value and bring huge profit? Or because they mehhhhhh....?
Of course not.
Sheep are a strange type of creatures. Very very strange. If not by God's great plan I think they would have become extinct by now.
They are the most defenceless type of creature. It's not their fault, by nature they are made and born with the inability to protect or defend themselves. They are not the fastest herbivores, in fact I can probably run faster than them. They have no horns that attack or strong legs that kick.
By themselves, they are not fit for survival in the wilderness.
And they are timid. Although born in a huge body, their courage is inversely proportional to their physical size. They are easily terrified and somewhat hysterical. The sight of a stranger even from 50 ft away is enough to create commotion amongst themselves , and then they start to panic , turn around, and ruuunnnnnnn!
Their thick wool predisposes them to growing bugs that's only specific yet lethal to them. Hence regular shearing is not just profitable for the farmers but is also essential to maintain the hygiene of the sheep.
And they lack the ability to sniff out pastures or streams. When they are led to a green pasture , their vision is so narrow that they will just eat and eat and eat the grass that's within their visual fields, and when they have finished eating the grass they stubbornly go on chewing the roots, and, destroy the pasture.
Sheep need their shepherd, or they die.
Stupid and short visioned, weak and fearful as they are, they recognise their shepherd's voice.
They go where the shepherd leads, they stupidly trust their shepherd.
The shepherd leads them to a safe place, sometimes up to the hills and down to the valleys just to bring them to a better, greener pasture. And in the process of traveling to the green pasture, some weaker sheep might fall, sometimes they legs get trapped between rocks , and they bleat. The shepherd will carry the weak sheep on his shoulder.
The shepherd watches over them, the shepherd casts his eye on each one of them and counts them. The shepherd casts his vision on the horizon, he looks out for any trace of possible threat.
The shepherd leads his flock to the quiet streams. It has to be quiet streams because large rivers with splashing water are too frightening to the poor timid sheep.
You know what is the most interesting observation?
Sheep are stupid, weak, defenceless, timid, faithless, prone to diseases, and they exhaust the pastures. They need constant attention and tender care.
But does the shepherd know about this?
I m sure he does.
He has to have real love for the sheep in order to be a good shepherd, and he does that because he owns the sheep. Hired hands care nothing about the sheep.
Oh I am so humbled by this. Who do I think I am? I am but sheep, weak and faithless.
My Lord Jesus is my shepherd. The Good Shepherd, and I know His voice.
