In current human terms, being called a sheep is considered derogatory. To be called a sheep is to be called someone who mindlessly follows or acts like someone else either to be part of a group, an ideology, or to be recognized. It is a term for someone who is a fool. The origin of such slang comes from the Bible because those who are the children of God are called the “human sheep of My pasture” (Ezekiel 34:31). Naturally, those who think that God is just a myth think that those of us who know God are fools, blindly following a book written by men for nefarious means. As a person who understands who and what God is (as far as can be understood), a Christian knows that the real fool is described in Psalms 14:1 (“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”) and 53:1 (“They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.”).
Why does God call us sheep? The metaphor is used directly in over 40 verses in the Bible, and the idea of a sheep or lamb is used indirectly upwards of 500 times. There is no doubt that God has a meaning behind something referenced so frequently and from so many different angles. Sheep are effectively defenseless against predators. They are not fast, do not have sharp claws, and their teeth are designed for eating grass right down to the ground — and nothing else. They are susceptible to stress and health issues like parasites. They tend to wander from the herd, which is their only protection, and will easily get hopelessly lost. Why would God choose such a weak and stupid animal? Looking at sheep, it is a wonder they can survive on their own at all. The domesticated version cannot. The wild variant just tries to flee predators or perch on ground where predators cannot tread. An occasional strong one with curved horns might charge a predator, but typically only if cornered or protecting its young.
To understand, recall what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
Those who do not understand the spirit do not understand the analogy. We are not just physical beings; we have a spiritual side. Given all the science and understanding of the physical world, there is something about human life and consciousness which cannot be explained. Our spirit exists within us. Once we die and the day of judgment comes, that spirit will be given a new body (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). We are more than the sum of our parts in this world.
Physically, we are strong creatures capable of commanding the earth to our bidding in so many ways. Yes, there are things which are stronger and more powerful than us. We cower in fear at lightning or the deepest depths of the oceans, but we are, truly, the apex creatures on the planet. Those who do not understand God only see this set of facts, but spiritually we are naked. What spiritual defenses do we have? We are defenseless against the predations of the devil. We cannot run away. We have no means of attack or defense. We are susceptible to the wearing down of our soul, or to the latching on of demons for their own means like a parasite. We wander, spiritually, away from any level of safety into places deep and dark to which we cannot find our own way back. Spiritually, we are just a foolish animal which will be ruthlessly killed by that adversary who seeks someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
The only defenses we have are the ones given to us by our Good Shepherd. We have the armor of God and the sword of the Spirit for protection (Ephesians 6:10-20). As social creatures of a flock, we help each other. We have been given the Word of God because, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). With those tools, we can have protection, but they all come from one source, God, and only through obedience can we discover and utilize them.
We do not understand the spiritual world, and do not have ways to navigate, defend, attack, or survive. All we know is what has been told to us by the only spiritual being on our side: God. He is our guide to a new realm of existence which we will one day enter. As a shepherd, He guides us, and if we want to live, we will listen: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).
Lance Byers