Fashioned to Follow
From the time we are little ones in school, we are taught to play the game, “Follow the Leader,” or to follow the teacher in single-file fashion down the hall. As a former elementary teacher and children’s ministry director, gathering children to get in line, and then maintaining that straight formation can be compared to herding the Israelites in the desert! I must wonder if the Lord often feels this way about His very own children today!
As Jesus began His ministry, He gathered disciples. His call was simple. “Follow Me.” When you follow someone, it requires trust, obedience, love, commitment, loyalty, observation, and devotion. Deviating to your own path is not following the leader. Sitting down and taking a break from the rhythm of the walk, is not following the leader. Being distracted by the latest and greatest removes our focus from the leader. Jesus wants us to trust Him and to follow His lead. It is so simple, but we so often make it very complicated. Like a young elementary student attempting to walk in that straight line, our shoelace may need re-tied, or something or someone catches our attention and gets us off course.
John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me”
On a recent ministry trip to Romania, I saw the most extraordinary sight. On travels through the countryside, I witnessed several different shepherds leading their flocks through fields. The fluid movement of the herd as they charged along the terrain of the land was beautiful. As a group, the sheep walked behind the lead of their shepherd, denoting trust.
The Good Shepherd Leads
Shepherds would often name the sheep of their herds just like we name our pets. There became a great affection between the shepherd and his sheep. Shepherds must keep their sheep moving from pasture to pasture as sheep herds can devour an entire field in one sitting. A shepherd will lead his sheep to green pastures, which is inevitably, right next to water. Jesus will lead you “beside still waters” and bring refreshment to your soul as well. Staying within His herd will keep you close to Him, giving you greater understanding of His foot patterns, and His voice. When you know your leader well, you will not follow the voice of strangers or the world! “… He goes before them and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow but they will flee from him for they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:4-5)
The Good Shepherd Protects
A shepherd would carry a few pieces of equipment as he led his flock. In his hand, he would carry a staff. The staff was long with a hook used for retrieving sheep from places if they should stray. The shepherd would also carry a rod. It was a short club used to protect the sheep from any prey that were to come too close. Finally, the shepherd would wear a slingshot, oftentimes around the head. It would quickly be used to ward off any predators, but also to gain the attention of a sheep if they were too far from the flock. Perhaps they would have stayed at the stream to drink too long as the rest of the group would have moved on. The shepherd knew his sheep well and where they were at all times.
The Good Shepherd Cares
Sheep are often prone to pestilence and bugs that prey on the skin. Their wool is so dense that many insects find the sheep to be a perfect host. Shepherds would pour oil upon the sheep’s wool acting as a repellent to the insects. It would also help as a natural increase to the sheep's own lanolin in their skin. Flies are also great disturbance to the sheep and would often try to make their way through the nasal passages to the lay their eggs and attack the sheep’s brain. But caring shepherds apply a tar-like face mask to their sheep to ward off these irritants and avert sickness. This imagery brings new meaning to Psalm 23:5, “You anoint my head with oil.”
We have a Great Shepherd who can be trusted. He is easy to follow because He leads well, protects us and cares for our every need.
We are fashioned to follow Him, ladies. Let Him lead the way.
