Throughout the Scriptures, we are compared to sheep.
For example, Isaiah the prophet wrote, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
Have you ever wondered why we’re compared to sheep? I mean, what’s up with sheep, right?
I did a little research and discovered some fascinating facts about sheep that helped me understand why God uses them to describe us so often in Scripture. It turns out—we’re more like sheep than we care to admit.
Did you know that sheep are fearful and easily panicked? Who knew?! Can you relate? In our humanness, most of us wrestle with fear. In fact, that’s the number one concern I hear from women and men as I travel the world. When we panic, we often make poor decisions—and you know what? So do sheep. A whole flock can be prodded into a stampede. They have a mob mentality.
But here’s the beautiful thing: when sheep know the shepherd’s voice, His voice calms their fears and settles their panic. This is why Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). He went on to say that His sheep follow Him because they know His voice (John 10:4). Friend, if you want to calm your fears, get to know the voice of Christ.
Did you know that sheep get jealous easily and push for dominance? Sound familiar? Maybe this hits a little too close to home—but it’s so easy for us to slip into envy, isn’t it? That’s the cry behind, “That’s not fair!” Our human tendency is to long for fairness. If our friend has a beautiful home, we want one too. If our co-worker gets a raise, we want one as well.
Here’s the thing: according to the parable of the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16), our Christian walk was never meant to be “fair.” If life were fair, we would all deserve hell, right? But praise God—that’s not the case!
One of the most convicting stories in Scripture happens when Jesus sits with His disciples on the beach after His resurrection. After re-commissioning Peter, Jesus tells him how he will die. Peter then looks at John and asks, “What about him?” And Jesus replies, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” (John 21:22). Ouch! I love this moment because it reminds me to resist the temptation to compare. In Jesus’ Kingdom, life may not be fair—but it is good. And our obsession with fairness can rob us of the abundant life Jesus promised His sheep (John 10:10).
Did you know that sheep are creatures of habit and resistant to change? Sound familiar again? Many of us are just like that. When God calls us to shift our thinking or embrace a new direction, we panic or pout. But as our Good Shepherd, Jesus knows that if we are going to live life to the fullest, we must keep being transformed. And here’s the truth: transformation requires change.
Friend, understanding our similarities to sheep can help us fix our eyes on Jesus, our Good Shepherd. He’s the One who laid down His life for us. Spend some time this week reflecting on the ways you might resemble a sheep—and then ask God to align your heart with His.
Purchase Becky’s latest book Cultivating Deeper Connections in A Lonely World here.
Comments are closed.