This article caught my attention, 20-month-old sheepdog named Casper fights off and kills 8 coyotes that attacked his flock, farmer says – CBS News. What do you think the sheep were doing while all that went on? Did they run in fear? Or did they watch as their protection went to work? It got me thinking about the trust it takes to let faith take over.
“The LORD will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”
Exodus 14:14
For me, sometimes scripture can be like trying to study in a language I don’t understand. Have you ever experienced that? When I think back to my hardheaded days (not that those days are over 😐), I get a good laugh over what I thought about certain “things in the Bible.” Like people being referred to as sheep. It was offensive to me because sheep are slaughtered throughout scripture. And me being an animal lover plus confused about God… well, it added to = a lot of confusion.
Casper’s fight reminds me of Jesus’ fight for His sheep. In the update on Casper, it mentions that none of the sheep he was tending to were lost, and with Jesus, His sheep are never lost either.
“Jesus answered, “I told you, but you don’t believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father,
actions that speak louder than words. You don’t believe because you’re not my sheep.
My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life.
They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand.
The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief.
No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.””
John 10:25-30 – The Message
Here’s a short and to the point devotional to add to that passage Jesus Keeps His Sheep | Desiring God. Speaking from experience as someone once on the prodigal side, it is wonderfully amazing how God fights for us to help us fight through the testing ground of earthly life!
Check out this link to an article on the basics of the behavior of sheep Sheep Behaviour Facts – Get to Know The Basics – Kippax Farms (kippax-farms.co.uk). And now this What is the significance of sheep in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org. Boy, do I feel sheeplike 🙄.
Some of the most eye-opening moments with the Lord are when we look back – hindsight. It’s how our testimonies get kicked off. It was an amazing euphoric feeling when I finally understood that the Lord had taken ahold of me and never let go, even though I had let go of Him. There is no better protection than under the protection of the Lord.
“Behold I have created the smith who blows the fires of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose.
I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
Isaiah 54:16-17
The Lord “created the smith … and produces a weapon,” to protect His flock – just like Casper was on the ready to protect his flock.
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous,
O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
Psalm 5:11-12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12
So, how many sheep is the Lord after?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.
He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you,
an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.”
John 5:24-25
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