SHEEP CROSSING
Ezekiel 34:15 “I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
Traffic came to a halt, but I had no idea why. There were few cars on the road, and I could see no obvious reason to be stopped. And then, suddenly-to my great surprise and delight–a flock of sheep emerged and crossed the road. As a newcomer to the countryside, I wasn’t yet familiar with country lanes being held up this way. Local farmers escort their flocks into their various fields, where they can graze on the grasses.
Because l’d only lived in cities throughout my life, the sight was something of a spectacle to me. Yet sheep were a regular part of life in the days of Ezekiel (and much of the Bible’s recorded history). The prophet drew on something familiar to the people-sheep and shepherding-to convey God’s message to them of comfort and hope.
Ezekiel offered comforting, hopeful words to the Israelites, telling them that despite the years of hardship in Babylon–the consequence of their recurrent rebellion against God-He’d one day restore them to “their own land” (Ezekiel 34:13). God would then, like a shepherd, “tend them in a good pasture,” and they would “lie down in good grazing land” (v. 14).
God shows similar care for His people. We can trust Him, our Shepherd, to lead us forward through lifethough we may feel “scattered” like sheep in the midst of difficulties (v. 12) towards good pastures (v. 13-14).
Thank You, God, for being my tender, trustworthy Shepherd.
