Road Trippin With Rachael

It seems like no matter where you look, there is an animal that we can be compared to. We see this in horoscopes, the Chinese calendar, and in business training. For the record, I’m a Scorpio, born in the year of the horse, and was taught to sell like a lion.

Personally, of the three I like be compared to the lion the most. Afterall they are majestic, roaming the savannah, lying in the sun, and are powerful predators. The king of the jungle! It was even my high school mascot. But that isn’t the way that we are described in the Bible. Instead, The lion is reserved as a description of Christ – the Lion of the Tribe of Judah – and in 1 Peter it is used to negatively describe the Devil as he prowls around looking for someone to devour. That picture alone makes me want to remove being a lion off the list of things I want to be compared to. Instead, human it described as being sheep.

That’s right. We are described as being completely defenseless fluff balls, with almost no natural defenses, and the prey of basically every predator.

But as we think more deeply about being sheep, we cannot forget that Christ is the Good Shepherd – his self proclaimed title. In today’s blog, we are going to take a more serious look at the history of shepherding in Israel, the issues that surround raising sheep, and why a shepherd is so important.

Shepherding in Israel

Early On…

Sheep herding has an interesting place in the culture of Israel during the time of Christ. While it is a profession that some of the most well-known characters in scripture had, it was also a profession that was looked down upon. The confusion with this cultural stance is further complicated by the fact that the Patriarchs and Moses were all shepherds. Abraham had sheep that were so plentiful that him and his nephew Lot had to separate so the land could support them (Genesis 13:5-9). Isaac eventually inherited everything from Abraham and was also a shepherd who lived a nomadic lifestyle. Once we get to Jacob and Esau we see a stark difference in the type of men these twins were. Esau was a man of the hunt – going out regularly and catching game; while Jacob was a herdsman and would later use those skills while he dwells with his father-in-law (Genesis 30:25-43) making both himself and Laban wealthy by the standards of the day. Regarding Moses, he lived as a shepherd for his father-in-law, Jethro, when he fled Egypt and lived in the wilderness (Exodus 3:1). Each man played a profound part in the overall history of who Israel has become as a people. Furthermore, King David – the most well known of kings in Israel was a humble shepherd boy when he was anointed as king (I Samuel 16) and later used those same skills when he took on Goliath of Gath (I Samuel 17). Given that these are some of the giants of the faith, shepherding has historically played a huge place within the economy of Israel.

Not only are there individuals that had this occupation, but it was also directly tied to the sacrificial system in place for the Israelite people. Tied to their religious beliefs and celebrations was the understanding of shepherding and caring for their animals. During Passover, the lamb that was killed and eaten was an animal that the family had raised during the year. This applied to every family that was in Israel – which as a result implied that all the families had at least a basic idea of who to take care of and raise a lamb, regardless of their occupation (merchants, skilled trades, or farmers). The knowledge of what it took to raise the lamb combined with the sacrificial system taught the people of their need to be forgiven of sin, as well as driving home the understanding that it was a repetitive process – they were through the whole process year over year (**More details about the temple/sacrificial system can be found by reading through the end of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy**). Because of the centrality shepherding had, it was considered a good occupation – a hard, somewhat lonely occupation – but a solid one.

In Jesus’ Time

The view of shepherding had greatly changed by the time that we get to Jesus. Whereas it had been an occupation that was respected, and seen as historically relative, and essential to their religious practices, it had become an occupation that only the lowest members of society did – for their employers. I have some thoughts on this as to why I think the view had changed.

First, I think much of it had to do with the Babylonia Captivity. During this time the Israelites were removed from the land, they integrated into Babylonia and later Persian society. Although animal husbandry was still important, there was a much higher demand for different food stuffs, and for tradesmen and artisans. It would also be important to notes that many Hebrew people had been killed before people were taken from the land – many of those individuals being the working class – and those that were in Babylon were primarily higher class or from the priestly families. They would not have been the shepherds anyway – they would have employed shepherds to watch their fields.

Second, upon returning to the land of Israel, they would have developed skill sets from having been in Babylonian and Persian Empires. Both empires were known for their arts and trades, and would have many skilled workmen. Since the Hebrew people were essentially prisoners of war it is unlikely that they would have been allowed en mass to over see a nation’s food supply.

Third, there was the introduction of Hellenism. This was a cultural and religious departure from Judaism, changing the language, the wider world of travel, and introducing occupations previously not in existence in Israel as leaders of the Greek and Roman worlds attempted to shape the the Middle and Near East into what they deemed to be the pinnacle of culture. Although shepherds were still a necessary part of these cultures, the view of it being a worthwhile profession and perfectly respectable had changed to it being a position only those who couldn’t get a job elsewhere would do.

The Problem with Sheep

It doesn’t take long if you are in the world of animal husbandry to realize that anytime you take it upon your self to raise an animal, that it takes work. Dogs and cats are often given to children to help them learn responsibility, as well as to give them a companion they can grow up with. Although some people will keep sheep as pets, they are primarily still raised today as a source of income, and as such those who raise them need to know how to care for them, and that is no small feet.

Sheep are needy animals – and that is putting it mildly. Although I personally haven’t worked with sheep, as a teenager my youth group did a study on them as we were going through Psalm 23.

The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days f my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live. – Psalm 23 (CSB)

Sheep have a herd mentality; this means that they don’t think or act independently of the group. They will go wherever their leader (shepherd) takes them. Once they recognize someone/something as their leader, they will follow them even unto death. Sheep need to be led to food and water – they will not go looking for it themselves. This is why Psalm 23 tells of the shepherd leading them to quiet water – they spook easily, too. They need constant care, direction, and over all maintenance. A sheep’s wool coat will grow, and grow, and grow. That is why shepherds need to do the shearing. They are prone to ear mites, so you need to keep their ears clean. They don’t have any kind of natural defenses – with the exception of a ram and his horns, but that won’t stop the majority of predators that would go after a sheep.

Without a doubt, sheep are probably one of the highest maintenance animals that someone could choose to get into. There is a high return on investment but you have to be willing and able to put in the amount of work necessary to see that return.

Why We Need a Shepherd

As difficult as a sheep is, it is this animal that scripture chooses to compare us as humanity to. That is because we are in need of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd for a reason. Not only did the people of Israel have a solid historic cultural basis for understanding what a shepherd did for their sheep, but it also paints a picture of the dependance that we, as humans, have on God.

Let’s face it, we really are sheep. We need to have someone who is there to direct us – regardless of how independent we think that we ware. Speaking from personal experience, I like to have a guide (especially the first time I do something). I’m not capable of fighting off all the things that come my way. I need hope and to know that I’m not alone. I need the protection that only God can give me.

Isn’t that exactly what the Good Shepherd does? He gives us armor (Ephesians 5) to defend ourselves spiritually. He cares for us so that we will know who he is (John 10:27). He protects us so that the things that want to do us harm are kept away (John 10:28b-29). The Good Shepherd makes sure that our physical needs are taken care of (Matthew 6:26-30). But most of all, if we belong to him, we are going to recognize him; we will be able to know when it is the Shepherd who is directing us or if we are being pulled in a different direction by the world around us (John 10:4-5). We need a Shepherd.

There is an important caveat to this: we have to belong to the Good Shepherd. We have to recognize him as our leader and follow him. When we do, the Shepherd keeps the lions, tigers, and bears (Oh my!) away. But we have to be his.

Final Thoughts

Even though I don’t like it, I have to accept that I am a sheep. I need someone to take care of me, to protect me, and to lead me to where I need to be. Because that is the best place for me. If we don’t belong to the Good Shepherd, then we belong to the world. If we belong to the world, then there is nothing that is standing between us and the lion that is searching for something to devour.