Lessons from a bunch of African Sheep

It wasn't until I came to Africa that I began to really understand Scripture's references to sheep and goats.  In Australia, sheep and goats look very different and could not be mistaken for each other.  Here in Africa, its another story.  At first glance what looks from a distance like a herd of goats or flock of sheep may actually be a mixed bunch.  It's not till you get up close that you begin to see the difference.  Until the eye becomes more trained, it seems the only identification that clearly shows who is who is that the sheep tails go down and the goat tails go up!  As the eye becomes more trained it is more easy to recognise who are the sheep and who are the goats.

Recently we were able to stay for a few days at a farmhouse in South Africa and a flock of sheep were in the adjoining paddock and I had reason again to learn a few more lessons from these African sheep.

1. Outward appearance is not the main thing!  These sheep were a really mottley crew!  Some were white, some were black and white, some were almost without any wool, some had a reasonable coat, some were very dirty, some had the coat in tatters and falling off, some were covered in 'cobbler pegs' weeds, some were big, some were small, some were 'older' and some were fairly little new lambs.....yet they all 'dwelt' together happily, sharing the paddock and even sharing the available shade as the sun rose high in the sky.  What they looked like was not the criteria of the unity of their fellowship!.....They were one flock because they were all of the identity 'sheep' and under one shepherd and underneath that varied exterior, their flesh/meat was all of the 'sheep' variety.  This is such a reminder when we find ourselves in a church flock of a varied bunch,  that its our identity as 'saved ones' under a common shepherd Jesus Christ that is the key to our unity of fellowship.

2. Communication! - I didn't realise how much members of a flock of sheep talk to each other!  There was lots and lots of 'baaaa -ing' going on (well the technical term is bleating of course).  Baby lambs calling to mothers, and mothers calling to babies and one section of the flock talking to another section.  I was amazed to hear how noisy they got when some of them found a way to escape and started to call to all the other sheep to come and see and escape too, and then the others started coming from all corners of the paddock calling constantly as they came - maybe saying 'hey wait for me'!  There was a really strong 'community' spirit of togetherness in this flock.  If one found something they thought was great, it was worth them all sharing it!  Now, fair-enough we won't make any parallels as to the wisdom of what they were doing, but I was actually surprised at this behaviour of calling everyone to participate together so all could enjoy the 'good' news.  Again this was a reminder to me of the 'community' aspect of being sheep in Christ's flock - we are meant to be in  communication with each other.  While we are individuals, we are also individuals together.  In the light of that we should share with each other verbally, in ministry to each other and in care for each other.

3. We have a patient Shepherd!  In the space of a couple of hours this flock of sheep that I was watching, twice found a way of escape from their grazing area and headed outside the boundaries of their assigned paddock.  They thought they were very clever and that they were breaking free from unreasonable constraints.  However the paddock they were escaping into, had no big trees to shelter under in the heat and no supplemental feed trough.  Both times the shepherd had to return (he was a farm hand who obviously had a few other jobs on the farm so wasn't constantly with them, but could see them), to round them up with the sound of his whistle and his whip as it cut through the air behind them.  The Shepherd showed no anger toward them, but just patiently took them back to the place that was best for them. 

How often do I , do we, follow so called 'good ideas' of other sheep without thinking about whether or not they fit in with the Shepherd's assigned plans for us?  But also, how often do we have cause to stand in humble praise that we have a faithful Shepherd who persists with us and draws us back to himself time and time again after our sinful self-seeking wandering, so we can know again the rest and provision that can only be found in Him.  

This was also a reminder to me that a few sheep can lead a whole flock astray if the whole flock heeds their fellow Christian's 'sheep-brained' (as opposed to Scripture rooted and Shepherd led) ideas based on their own wisdom and desires.  I am reminded that I am called to follow the Shepherd. On the first 'escape', some sheep stayed in the paddock and didn't escape with the others, although periodically they would see if there was some other way to join them.  It reminded me that even when a bunch of other believers wander off, it doesn't mean I have to follow.

And lastly, I can be reminded that even if many wander using their own wisdom at times, Christ is not only committed to me as an individual, but to His whole flock and He does see what is going on in it and He will do what is necessary, when it is necessary, to discipline His church, and care for His church no matter how many times we wander....because He has said He will build HIS church.  He is a committed Shepherd.

Those of you who know me, know I collect sheep (no, not real ones), as a reminder of the fact that as a Christian I am one of The Lord's sheep and He is my Shepherd, and the many parallels between these woolly creatures and my own heart.  But this time as I watched, I saw some new parallels not just in relation to me as an individual sheep but as a member of the bigger community of Christ's 'flock'.  What a blessing!